Eighteen years ago, the Blue Jays traded Robinzon Diaz to the Pirates in exchange for Jose Bautista. At the time, the trade received little fanfare—even Bluebird Banter didn’t cover it immediately. Only later did we discuss its significance. In hindsight, it became the best trade of J.P. Ricciardi’s tenure.
The news did get into a post I did a couple of days later:
With Diaz sent to Pittsburgh to complete the Bautista trade, he comes off our top 11 prospect list. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
Diaz had struggled that year and J.P. Arencibia likely surpassed him, but I still thought Diaz was closer to being major league ready. Looking ahead, we’d need a catcher for next season—or risk a lot of passed balls.
I missed that one.
The next day, I posted a poll about the trade: 48% of readers liked the move, while 52% did not. Amusingly, I had thought Bautista was a middle infielder back then.
A few days later, I linked to a FanGraphs story, “Pirates Plunder Toronto,” and said this:
I also shared a FanGraphs article titled “Pirates Plunder Toronto.” At the time, I disagreed with the idea that the Jays were ‘plundered.’ While I liked Diaz, I doubted he’d become a star. I figured the trade would ultimately be inconsequential for both teams. But time would prove me wrong.
Wrong again.
It took him a few days to get his first hit as a Blue Jay.
It took about a year before we realized Bautista deserved more than a platoon role.
Ultimately, the trade was a big win for Toronto. Jose Bautista compiled a 37.0 WAR as a Blue Jay, according to Baseball Reference. Diaz, by contrast, played just 44 major league games.
Jose quickly became one of my favourite players to watch. His intensity and desire to win stood out, and he regularly helped his teammates with advice and support. Sometimes, I wished he’d show more joy on the field, but critics would likely complain no matter his demeanor.
Bautista often drew criticism, which is a common burden for a team’s best player—especially when the team falls short. I remember, as a kid, watching Gary Carter get blamed for the Expos’ disappointments and wondering why the less talented players escaped such scrutiny.
Acquiring Bautista was a turning point for the franchise. The team gained swagger and identity, and Bautista became the kind of player opposing fans loved to hate. As Reggie Jackson famously said, ‘People don’t boo nobodies.’
I can’t imagine—and wouldn’t want to—what those seasons would have been like without Bautista. His presence made them far more enjoyable.
Favorite memories?
- The iconic bat flip perfectly encapsulated Jose’s style. In a critical moment, he delivered the big hit, and his reaction represented exactly how we all felt.
- I was lucky enough to be in Boston in 2010 when Jose hit his 48th and 49th home runs of the season.
- In 2009, I attended Jays games in Seattle during Jose’s first full season with Toronto. Sitting near third base, I watched as the Mariners put a runner on second and a single was hit to left field—where Jose played more often that year. Expecting a run to score, I was amazed when Jose fired a laser to home plate, nabbing Kenji Johjima. Until that moment, I hadn’t realized just how strong his arm was. Roy Halladay started that game, and with the trade deadline looming, we thought it might be his last as a Blue Jay. Ultimately, he wasn’t dealt until after the season.
- Watching him work with Chris Colabello on his defense in the outfield.
- Jose quietly declined to do interviews with Sportsnet after they featured Devon Travis in a segment where he was taken suit shopping and then expected to pay for the suit. Jose felt it was unfair to use a rookie making the league minimum for promotional purposes, especially when the purchase wasn’t voluntary.
- What stands out most is his intensity.
Jose on the Blue Jays career leaderboards:
Career bWAR position players: 1st (38.4).
Offensive bWAR: 2nd (37.0).
On-base percentage: 4th (.372) minimum 1500 PA (tied with Otto Velez).
Slugging average: 5th (.506 behind Carlos Delgado (.556)).
OPS: 4th (.875, tied with Edwin Encarnacion).
Games Played: 5th (1235).
Home runs: 2nd (288, 48 short of Delgado).
RBI: 3rd (766).
Walks: 2nd (803, 24 behind Delgado).
