The Globe and Mail

Jose Bautista insists that when he gets to the Rogers Centre Saturday morning he won't rush to the clubhouse wall where the starting lineups are posted to see if his name has been pencilled in by manager Cito Gaston.

Saturday at 4 p.m. ET is baseball's non-waiver trade deadline, and chances are if Bautista is not in the starting lineup for the Toronto Blue Jays' 1 p.m. start against the Cleveland Indians, a deal is in the works.

The major-league leader in home runs this season with 30 heading into Friday night's game against the Indians, Bautista is drawing interest from several teams that, unlike the Blue Jays, are involved in playoff races.

Bautista only added to his value Friday night when he stroked his 31st home run of the year – a grand slam in the fourth inning that helped propel the Blue Jays to an 8-1 triumph.

Bautista knows his name is out there, but realizes there's nothing he can do should the Blue Jays decide to deal him.

“I will have some peace of mind once it's over, knowing that, hopefully, I'm going to stay here,” Bautista said before Friday's game.

Catcher John Buck and reliever Scott Downs are two other Blue Jays mentioned as trade bait. Closer Kevin Gregg is also generating interest.

Bautista, 29, has been around long enough to know that anybody can be traded at any time.

The Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox have all reportedly contacted Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos to see what it would take to pry the versatile performer out of Toronto.

While he is putting up unprecedented (for him) power numbers with the bat this season, Bautista is also more than comfortable defensively.

Normally a right fielder, Bautista is at home playing all three outfield positions and can also play third base and even first if necessary.

His nine outfield assists to lead all American League outfielders this season is a testament to one of the best throwing arms in baseball.

“It's sort of flattering,” Bautista said about the interest his name is generating. “But obviously when you're doing well, you expect some team will want you, especially if you're going to make a pitch for the playoffs. This is a big business and teams understand that.”

In his short reign as the Blue Jays' GM, Anthopoulos has not been shy to pull the trigger on a deal.

Friday he made another move – his second in as many days – when he acquired first baseman Mike Jacobs from the New York Mets in exchange for a player to be named later.

Jacobs, a six-year major-league veteran who had 32 home runs for the Florida Marlins in 2008, was the Mets' opening-day first baseman and batted cleanup. He was demoted to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo after just 11 games.

On Thursday, Anthopoulos shipped Brett Wallace, who was being groomed as the Blue Jays' first baseman of the future, to the Houston Astros for Anthony Gose, a 19-year-old work-in-progress centre fielder.

A second-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008, even Gose seems to realize he is still far from making the jump to the big leagues.

“Everything has been baby steps,” he said Friday night in a telephone conference call. “I'm 19 and … I have a lot to learn. I've got a long ways to go before I'm a complete player.”

Gaston said if he had his preference, Bautista would remain a Blue Jay.

“But it's up to Alex,” the manager said. “If he sees something who he thinks is going to make this ball club better in the long run, then he might want to do it.”