The Toronto Blue Jays will once again be without the services of Jose Bautista. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained left knee. Add this absence to his lengthy DL stint for turf toe earlier this year, and it’s looking increasingly like a lost season for Joey Bats.

This rash of injuries couldn’t come at a worse time for Bautista, who’s looking to cash in on a well deserved big free agent contract in the offseason.

No one will argue that the lack of Bautista in the everyday lineup will hurt the Jays in 2016. It would be asinine to suggest otherwise. But for those who wish to see Joey Bats in a Jays uniform come 2017, this latest injury could be a blessing in disguise.

Thanks to an injury-riddled 2016 campaign, Bautista’s numbers fall well short of his typically stellar level. He’s currently hitting .222/.349/.444 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 355 plate appearances this season. Even when you tack on whatever else he’s able to produce when he returns, they’re less than ideal stats for a guy in his contract year.

You might remember the lofty demands Bautista made in the offseason: north of five years and $150 million dollars. While it’s difficult to argue that he’s not deserving of a big free agent payday, it’s equally challenging to expect the Jays or any team to come close to those offers now.

Teams might see a 35-year-old Bautista — who’s also an increasing liability defensively in the outfield — coming off his worst season since becoming a full-time player and decide he’s not worth their time or money. National League teams in particular wouldn’t be able to carry a player whose future looks to be at DH.

That could provide the Jays with an opportunity to bring Bautista back into the fold for 2017, with a qualifying offer. And at this point, accepting that offer may even be in his best interests. A healthy 2017 season could get his value back to where it was, or at least close enough to it.

The Jays must be aware that how far they go this year will help dictate the future of players like Bautista, regardless of how much of the field he sees during said run. With the window of contention quickly closing for an aging roster, this could be the break the Jays need to retain at least part of their soon-to-be free agent offensive core.

No matter how you crunch the numbers, it’s clear Bautista has cost himself significant money by not being able to stay on the field. 

Is it fair? Not entirely. But pro sports are a “what have you done for me lately” business, especially when it comes to free agency. 

So, what Bautista does for the rest of 2016 may very well have an even greater impact on his Blue Jays’ legacy than “the bat flip.”

Chris Suppa is a freelance writer and photographer based in Toronto. Follow him at @Suppa55 for somewhat-coherent ramblings about the Blue Jays and on Instagram at @chrissuppaphotography.