PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies traded for Jose Bautista on Tuesday because they hope the veteran slugger will come up with a big hit or two and help them make the postseason for the first time since 2011.
The Phils will send the Mets a player to be named or cash for Bautista, who will be a bat off their bench.
"He's a really good player," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Monday.
To make room for Bautista on the 40-man roster, right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. was designated for assignment.
Bautista, 37, hit .204 with nine home runs and a .718 OPS in 83 games after the Mets signed him in May. But Bautista's time with the Mets was a tale of two halves. He posted a .921 OPS in his first 39 games with New York. He has a .585 OPS in 44 games since.
"We have been fairly aggressive this month in claiming players on waivers," Phils general manager Matt Klentak said Monday. "One of those claims led to a trade for Justin Bour a couple of weeks ago."
Bautista is the right-handed version of Bour, who is on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. There is no timetable for Bour's return.
Bour's injury could be one reason why Philadelphia is taking a shot at Bautista. Even if that is not the case, Bautista will give Kapler an extra option on the bench, someone who might run into a pitch and hit a home run.
It remains unlikely the Phillies will add a starter before Friday's deadline for acquired players to be eligible for the postseason roster. They did not seriously pursue pitchers like Cole HamelsJ.A. Happ or Chris Archer before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, because they like their rotation.
That has not changed.
"We have made claims on starting pitchers, none of which have led to a trade," Klentak said. "The fact that we've made claims on those guys says nothing. It doesn't diminish our confidence in our current group. I think we just have to be smart about recognizing value when we see it. I don't expect us to add a starter between now and Saturday. I don't think that's a pressing need for us. We really like the guys we run out there."
Todd Zolecki/MLB.com
 

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