Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion isn’t interested in discussing a new deal during the season, his agent Paul Kinzer tells Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports. Encarnacion is set to reach the open market at the conclusion of the 2016 campaign.
A team source tells Heyman that the organization has at least made “overtures” to re-start a dialogue with the 33-year-old star. But when asked if Toronto had made an in-season effort, Kinzer said the team had “not really” tried. (That could be interpreted, perhaps, as a denial of communications or a reflection of their nature and quality.)
That’s just fine for Encarnacion’s camp: as Kinzer says, he never intended to talk during the season after a bad experience with that approach earlier in his career. “He’s the most relaxed I’ve every seen him,” says Kinzer. “Why mess with the guy? He’s content. He’s happy.”
Indeed, after a sluggish start, Encarnacion has been on fire at the plate. His season line — .267/.358/.541 with 23 home runs over 387 plate appearances — is already back in line with the top-level offensive production he’s delivered in recent campaigns.
From the club’s perspective, president of baseball operations Mark Shapiro suggested to Heyman that the organization didn’t low-ball the veteran over the winter. (Specifically, he denied an apparent report that the Jays made an opening offer of one year and then moved it to two, both of which would fall well below Encarnacion’s seeming market placement.) Still, Heyman says that the perception continues that Jose Bautista remains a higher priority for Toronto.
While there no longer appears to be any possibility of an extension, that doesn’t mean the Jays won’t have any chance to retain Encarnacion. “This doesn’t mean Toronto’s out,” says Kinzer. “This as the plan all along. We were going to play this thing out.”
Ee should be the higher priority. Younger and willing to be the DH. Love Jose but his outfield defence is regressing. But ee might have priced himself out of the Jays range. Could easily see a team like the Red Sox offering a ton to him.
Totally agree with you on this. Over the course of both of their next contracts, EE will be the better player (in my opinion). Bautista has not looked sharp this year. Add in the injuries and his age, and I’d put EE over him.
You would think with the trade deadline approaching guys like Heyman would have better things to do than to report something that was made clear at the beginning of the season. EE did not stutter when he said he would not negotiate a contract in season.
Would love the Red Sox to sign him when Papi retires if the Blue Jays are too cheap to retain him. In 27 career plate appearances he is hitting .370/ .414/ .852/ 1.266 at Fenway. Insane numbers.
Him or Bautista are going to be the top candidates if the Blue Jays let them walk.
My mistake, those are 2016 numbers alone. His career #s at Fenway are: .300/ .351/ .533/ .884 in 90 AB.
Thanks for the correction. Still great!
Just 90 AB though? Doesn’t seem quite right
ACTUAL career numbers at Fenway for EE:
179 AB, .279, 14 HR, 41 RBI
.279/.373/.547
Totally agree. EE would be a great replacement for Big Papi. He’s also a right handed batter which the Red Sox could really use in a lefty lineup.
Holt (or Benentendi), Shaw, & Bradley are the only lefties in the lineup for next year, two of which are platooned. The cost of EE, plus the fact it would keep Hanley at 1B and possibly block Moncada at 3B makes me think they won’t bite.
EE can play 1b too. Jays put him there when other players need to Dh
I’ll still root against the Red Sox but that’s a logical thought
I like edwin more since hes pure dh. Batista doesnt seem like a good defender of what ive seen. Donaldson,Encarnacion,Tulo seem like a good 3-5
I don’t see the Jays keeping him next year. If I had to guess, Boston will pick him up. I don’t see many other teams spending what he is worth for a DH.
I don’t understand this Jose is who they will go after? Y EE has been more consistant the last 4 years he is #2 In Rbi’s and Hrs and 8 in ops and this year he is doing well. Also anytime he has played over 100games he has a batting avg of 250+ from a cheap ownership like Rogers it shouldn’t be hard to see that EE isthe better investment. I think Jose has more potential for a monster year but EE is a more consistent one!
So are you guys ever going to let anyone know who won the free agent prediction contest….
He’d look good in the OF of Wrigley wearing Cubbie blue??? Maybe
He’s a DH. Cubs cup runneth over with OFers
You can start photoshopping a Red Sox uni on him now, ’cause that’s where he’ll be next season. They’re not gonna rely on Hanley’s weak bat to fill Papi’s shoes.
.288/.367/.435
God forbid Hanley brings that weak stat line as a DH next year.
.288/.367/.435
Yeah, God forbid Hanley brings that weak stat line as a DH next year.
Talking to yourself again???? lol totally just kidding. I had to do that.
Jays should get Bautista, he actually wants to stay in Toronto maybe he could take less for being on the D.L? Like $20 mill?
LOL EE was the one who says he wants to stay in Toronto where as JB said he wants to test free agency
Nah he said he’d me stupid too leave Toronto but also stated they need to pay me too
They both expressed an interest in staying in Toronto
Then again how often do you hear a player say I really want out of here or I’m out for the most money? At least before they sign a new deal.
Does Boston have that much more overpay in them? I see them needing pitching, and they’ve already wasted a tonne on Ramirez and Sandoval. They still might need a third baseman and/or left fielder as well, I just don’t see Edwins market as strong as some might think, the Yankees wouldn’t be interested I wouldn’t think, they’ve got a whole bunch of overpaid DH types. He’s only going to get paid in the AL, so, the White Sox would make more sense to me but would they pay the huge free agent dollars? Anaheim is not buying him, not Texas, not Seattle, can’t see Cleveland going big, and he doesn’t fit Kansas cities mold either.
Let’s be honest. Has money ever been an issue for the Sox? They sell out almost every game. Even when they sucked for awhile. They have a ton of fans and a ton of revenue.
The Red Sox don’t have room for either, unless they trade Shaw. He will take 1B back, HanRam moves to DH. Panda gets a slim chance to redeem himself before DFA to usher in Yoan Moncada.