After busy off-season, Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista ‘excited’ for 2013 season

TORONTO – Jose Bautista can’t wait to get going.

The Toronto Blue Jays slugger says after a season of frustration that ended early because of a wrist injury, he’s excited for 2013 after the team made a big splash in the last two.

The club added five former or current all-stars in the off-season, including pitchers R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Melky Cabrera.

Bautista, who hit a club-record 54 home runs in 2010, voiced his displeasure in the past with the direction of the team after he signed a long-term contract extension.

But the 32-year-old says he’s happy general manager Alex Anthopoulos stuck to his plan of building the organization from within before making any big moves.

Bautista was in Toronto today as part of the team’s winter tour that will include stops in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton.