The Phillies have acquired infielder/outfielder José Bautista from the New York Mets in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, General Manger Matt Klentak announced.
A six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Bautista has combined to hit .196 (55-280) with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 42 RBI, 56 walks and a .339 on-base percentage in 95 games for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets this season. Coming off the bench as either a pinch-hitter or defensive replacement, he is hitting .350 (7-20) with 11 RBI and a 1.112 OPS. With runners in scoring position, Bautista is batting .284 with six doubles, three home runs and 31 RBI. Defensively, the 37-year-old has made 73 starts this season: 41 in right field, 17 at third base, 13 in left field and two at first base.
Now in his 15th major league season, the Phillies will be Bautista's eighth team after stints with the Baltimore Orioles (2004), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004), Kansas City Royals (2004), Pittsburgh Pirates (2004-08), Toronto Blue Jays (2008-17), Braves (2018) and Mets (2018). The right-handed hitter owns a .247 batting average with 308 doubles, 17 triples, 342 home runs, 969 RBI, 1,021 walks and an .836 OPS in 1,771 career major league games. He is currently 15 hits shy of 1,500 for his career. Bautista ranks fourth in the majors in home runs (283) since the start of 2010. He was originally selected by the Pirates in the 20th round of the June 2000 draft.
To make room for Bautista on the 40-man roster, right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. was designated for assignment. A corresponding 25-man roster move will be made once Bautista reports.