During his final regular season plate appearance against the Texas Rangers on May 15, 2016, Bautista was hit by a pitch from Matt Bush, which many believed to be retaliation by the Rangers organization for Bautista's bat flip in the 2015 ALDS.
Two batters later, Bautista, intending to break-up a double play, made a hard, but no longer legal (as of that season), slide into second basemen Rougned Odor.
Although the slide didn't make any contact, Odor pushed Bautista, who shoved back, followed by Odor punching Bautista in the jaw.
This ignited a bench-clearing brawl.
Bautista was handed a one-game suspension by the league for his part in the melee, which he appealed.
On May 27, MLB announced that they had upheld the suspension.
During the day of his suspension, Bautista served as the public address announcer at Rogers Centre.
On June 17, 2016, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an injury to his left big toe.
He returned from the disabled list near the end of July.
On August 2, Bautista hit his 300th career home run, a solo shot off Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr..
On November 7, the Blue Jays extended a $17.2 million qualifying offer to Bautista, which he declined on November 14.
During his final regular season plate appearance against the Texas Rangers on May 15, 2016, Bautista was hit by a pitch from Matt Bush, which many believed to be retaliation by the Rangers organization for Bautista's bat flip in the 2015 ALDS. Two batters later, Bautista, intending to break-up a double play, made a hard, but no longer legal (as of that season), slide into second basemen Rougned Odor. Although the slide didn't make any contact, Odor pushed Bautista, who shoved back, followed by Odor punching Bautista in the jaw. This ignited a bench-clearing brawl. Bautista was handed a one-game suspension by the league for his part in the melee, which he appealed. On May 27, MLB announced that they had upheld the suspension. During the day of his suspension, Bautista served as the public address announcer at Rogers Centre. On June 17, 2016, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an injury to his left big toe. He returned from the disabled list near the end of July. On August 2, Bautista hit his 300th career home run, a solo shot off Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr..
On November 7, the Blue Jays extended a $17.2 million qualifying offer to Bautista, which he declined on November 14.
José Bautista