At the beginning of the season, when Jose Bautista was talking about massive guaranteed contracts and pushing numbers like $150 million over five years, I went on record many times declaring his years with the Toronto Blue Jays were over. 

Of course, that was under the assumption that Bautista had any kind of healthy and productive season. If he did, he would expect ridiculous money, and — silly baseball — most likely get it from some mystery team starving for more slugging.

The Blue Jays, who have maintained their stance on not giving away prospects or throwing money at big-name free agents, wouldn’t be stupid enough to throw huge piles of cash at a hitter on the cusp of his decline years — even one as prolific in Toronto sports lore as Bautista. Keeping him around for the alleged asking price simply didn’t make sense.

But Bautista now finds himself in a very different negotiating position. He’s done two stints on the disabled list, watched his power numbers cool and has been slugged in the jaw. His on-base percentage is still solid and his hitting above league average, but his trending decline and non-existent defence have taken a lot of his leverage away. If you’re a general manager projecting Bautista going forward, you have to wonder how many innings of healthy, let alone productive, Bautista you’d get if you did drop big money to sign him into his retirement years.

This is a narrative Bautista can reverse if put in the right situation. If Bautista believes he can keep slugging — and it’s hard to think he doesn’t believe that — he should be angry about leading off. After all, the market pays for power, not on-base percentage (the respective disciplines of middle-of-the-order sluggers versus leadoff men), especially not from a guy who doesn’t steal and has leg injuries on his recent medical record.

Even slugging leadoff unicorns don’t get paid like three- and four-hole sluggers do. They can’t. There isn’t as much chance for leadoff sluggers to produce RBIs, because the runs that could potentially be driven in rest on the bottom of the order’s ability to get on base consistently. If Bautista really wants to get paid this off-season he should fight for a middle-of-the-order spot.

The Blue Jays should think about moving him further down the order as well. Time is against him, it's true. I can cite dozens of examples of declining hitters from age 36 on. Bautista is 35 now, and while his power numbers may be down, I don’t think they’re out.

What's more, I don’t think there are many hitters who approach opposing pitchers with a tactical plan of execution as well as Bautista does. His ability to produce form the leadoff spot after years of crushing baseballs in a power role proves that. The man is a professional hitter, competent in any scenario. On a team where a healthy Devon Travis could and should handle the leadoff role, I’d rather Bautista’s bat be at the receiving end of forced fastballs around the zone thanks to the gauntlet of Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, and Edwin Encarnacion.

Bautista's OPS with runners in scoring position is .861. With men on it is .892. Not many hitters can brag about that. 

That said, the Jays using Bautista as a designated hitter is the best choice for both his present production and future paydays. Bautista is not the outfielder he once was. While his arm is still strong, his legs aren’t. His speed and range have really taken a hit, making Melvin Upton Jr., a superior choice in the field. The Jays would be wise to keep Bautista on the bench, let Edwin cover first base and keep Upton in right.

Bautista’s future is at DH or pinch hitting (though I can see a world where he could handle some first base). Some might say this is a bit premature, but I don’t think it is. We’re already seeing a world where Bautista is using his plate discipline and strategy over his pure power potential to get on base. His hitting smarts are what will sustain his value in years to come. Showing versatility may not get him the big-money contract, but it will help him stay in the game longer.

This is all just one man’s opinion. In the immediate future, Bautista will continue to hit leadoff. Of course, if the Jays intend to make a discounted offer to Bautista for his future services, this is a brilliant plan. 

In truth, Bautista should stay with the Blue Jays. Not because the fans love him with a passion so deep that nothing could ever fill the void if he left. No, Bautista should stay because, if he wants to be on a team that can protect him in the lineup and celebrate him even when the numbers start to slide and his role changes, the Jays are it.

In a few years, Bautista could be exclusively a DH/pinch hitter. While that doesn’t seem glamorous, it’s priceless in the moment execution is demanded. Bautista is one of the few players with the mentality for it.