Jose Bautista signs one-day contract to retire as a Blue Jay on Friday

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista follows through on a double during the third inning of the team's baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By Hayley McGoldrick

Posted Aug 11, 2023 07:29:54 AM.

Last Updated Aug 11, 2023 03:51:47 PM.

All-star slugger Jose Bautista signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and officially announced his retirement from baseball.

The signing took place ahead of Bautista’s name being added to the Level of Excellence at Rogers Centre on Saturday.

“There aren’t many names as synonymous with Blue Jays baseball as Jose Bautista, and it is our great honour that he will officially retire in a Blue Jays jersey,” Mark Shapiro, Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO, said in a statement.

“On behalf of a generation of Blue Jays fans that had the privilege of watching his clutch moments on the field and inspiring work ethic — thank you, Jose, for a mesmerizing decade representing the Toronto Blue Jays.”

Bautista will become the first player added to the Level of Excellence since Halladay in 2018, and it was his ascension to superstar status that helped the club reset from the Hall of Fame right-hander’s departure following the 2009 season.

Bautista spent 10 seasons in Toronto, reigniting the fanbase by leading the Blue Jays to back-to-back American League Championship Series in 2015 and ’16. Bautista was a six-time all-star and three-time Silver Slugger while a member of the Blue Jays.

Bautista will also live forever in the memories of Blue Jays fans for his legendary “bat flip” after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS against the Texas Rangers.

The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native left the Blue Jays as a free agent after the 2017 season and split the 2018 campaign — his final one in the majors — between the Braves, Mets and Phillies.

Bautista retires with 312 home runs and 975 RBIs in 15 seasons. His 288 home runs in a Blue Jays uniform is second on the franchise’s all-time list behind only Carlos Delgado.

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