Blue Jays plan to extend qualifying offers to Bautista and Encarnacion

“What I can tell you is that we’re trying to win and we’re going to continue to try to win,” Atkins said. “I think that’s what drives us, that’s what motivates us and that’s what we’re looking to do in any way possible.

“I can’t see a scenario where that changes, really.”

Extending a qualifying offer — worth US$17.2 million — ensures that the Blue Jays would receive compensation if a player signs with another team as a free agent.

The five-day window opens the day after the World Series ends. After that, a player has a week to accept the qualifying offer to come back for another year or explore free agency.

It’s also possible — though unlikely — that the team and player could agree on a new contract during the five-day window. However, a player would likely have to be blown away by an offer to not test the free-agent market.

“What I can tell you is what we’re planning for is a couple of different alternatives,” Atkins said. “I feel confident in saying that we’ll have enough information to work towards something with both individuals.”

The GM did not want to get too deep into specifics, but did say both Encarnacion and Bautista will “be priorities.”

The Blue Jays had an active team payroll of about $137 million this season.

With several heavy salaries already on the books for next year, a payroll increase would essentially be required to bring back either Bautista or Encarnacion and fill out the rest of the roster with quality players.

“Everything has an opportunity cost and we’ll have to weigh that if we’re facing the decision to have both of them back and what that would mean,” Atkins said. “Ultimately those guys have had very good careers, have always hit right-handed and left-handed pitchers, have been a huge part of this organization’s success, especially in the last couple of years.

“So we’ll have to weigh that against our alternatives and what the opportunity cost would be.”

A weaker crop of free agents could drive up the price even more.

Encarnacion is coming off a team option of $10 million — a huge bargain for the Blue Jays — while Bautista is coming off a $14-million option year.

Encarnacion, who turns 34 in January, is expected to really cash in. The first baseman/designated hitter belted 42 homers — the fifth straight year he has cleared the 30-homer mark — and drove in 127 runs.

Bautista’s numbers were down (22 homers, 69 RBIs) in an injury-plagued campaign. He just turned 36 and his arm and defensive range aren’t what they used to be.

Both players have become so-called faces of the franchise in recent years and both played big roles in helping the Blue Jays end their 22-year playoff drought in 2015.

The Cleveland Indians eliminated Toronto from the playoffs last week. The Blue Jays also reached the ALCS last year before falling to the Kansas City Royals.

Encarnacion and Bautista have both expressed how much they have enjoyed playing in Toronto. Whether the Blue Jays are keen to meet their contract demands is the great unknown.

Atkins also said the team is still working through a decision on whether to extend a qualifying offer to Canadian outfielder Michael Saunders. He had a strong first half but tailed off in the second half of the season.

Other prominent Blue Jays who could become free agents are relievers Brett Cecil and Joaquin Benoit. Atkins said the team will likely exercise the option on reliever Jason Grilli’s contract and added it’s possible reliever Joe Biagini could become a starter next season.

Other priority areas for the Blue Jays this off-season are adding bullpen depth, some left-handed bats to balance out the order, and some speed on the basepaths.

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Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Blue Jays plan to extend qualifying offers to Bautista and Encarnacion

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