A source indicates that free-agent outfielder Jose Bautista and his camp have been contacted by the Los Angeles Dodgers regarding a potential contract, but that those talks are on hold until the major-league trade market further plays itself out.

Bautista, 36, in the spring was reportedly asking for a five-year contract, but the off-season market has not been kind and the hard-hitting right fielder would be expected to sign a shorter term deal with an annual average value of less than $20 million. The Rays are also believed to have been in touch with Bautista, but their primary need is short-term at DH. Bautista still wants to play the outfield.

In an injury-plagued 2016, Bautista batted .234, but with a respectable .817 OPS, slamming 22 homers with 69 RBIs. Bautista in his nine years with the Jays, hit 265 home runs, with 701 RBIs, compiling a .265 average with a .910 OPS.

The Dodgers’ current outfield is comprised of lefthanded hitters Joc Pederson and Andrew Toles, with righthanded Yasiel Puig in right field. The Dodgers have been rumoured in trade talks with the Pirates for Andrew McCutchen and with the Brewers for Ryan Braun. The Nats are considered favourites to land McCutchen.

One problem for the Dodgers is dealing with the luxury tax as per the newly negotiated CBA. The Dodgers are projected to be slightly over $200 million in team payroll for 2017, with the threshold of the tax sitting at $189-million. There are severe penalties to clubs that exceed the limit and clubs are trying to stay under the number. They would need to trade some salary before being able to add Bautista.

The Dodgers currently have nine guaranteed contracts for 2017, totalling around $136-million. They would like to move lefthanded starter Scott Kazmir and have always been willing to listen to offers for Puig, at $8.2 million.

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