PIT Post-Gazette: Jose Bautista demoted in surprise move

No more than a minute or two had passed after Jose Bautista learned that he had been demoted to the minors, and he was on the phone with his agent, Bean Stringfellow. Probably no coincidence.

The Pirates’ starting third baseman most of the past two years was visibly stunned after general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell had informed him last night, in Russell’s office, that he was being optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis. The move will clear space for first baseman Adam LaRoche to come off the disabled list today.

“It doesn’t feel good,” Bautista said. “I definitely didn’t see this coming, to tell you the truth. Got to go down there and play.”
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Bautista, 27, was batting .242 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs, the latter two figures on pace to match or exceed career highs.

Pirates are in for it now.  As the years have shown, you don’t mess with Bean Stringfellow.  That’s even worse than crossing Jim Masteralexis.  Bad news.