Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista calls contract demand 'false'

Reports that Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista wants a five-year, $150 million contract are "false," he tweeted Tuesday.

A day after Bautista and his agent reportedly indicated the terms of a contract they are seeking in a new deal with the Blue Jays, the outfielder backed away from those comments.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins also refused to go into detail or discuss any progress made on a new deal that would start with the 2017 season.

"To me, it's not a cloud," Atkins said. "To me, it's really clear we've had really clear, effective communication. There is no ambiguity. We can focus on playing baseball -- Jose feels good about doing that."

The 35-year-old Bautista will make $14 million this season in the final year of a six-year, $78 millon contract after the Blue Jays exercised a 2016 option. But he will be eligible to enter free agency after the World Series.

Last year, Bautista belted 40 home runs and had 114 RBIs to help Toronto to the American League East championship.

"I love being around the guy," Atkins said. "I love talking baseball with him. I love to hear him talking about his career. It gets me fired up."

Atkins also refused to go into specifics about a reported three-team trade involving Jays outfielder Michael Saunders that fell through. Saunders would have gone to the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce to the Blue Jays with the Reds receiving prospects from Toronto.

"There's a lot of trade rumors, there's a lot of trade discussion," Atkins said. "We have them constantly. There's really nothing I can comment on about it."