In his latest column, FanRag’s Jon Heyman writes that while the Blue Jays offered Edwin Encarnacion only a two-year deal with a pair of options back in Spring Training (as has been previously reported), his huge season is expected to push the Jays to up their offer. Toronto “might consider” four years, per Heyman, though their preference would be to retain Encarnacion on a three-year pact. A three-year deal strikes me as a non-starter, as Encarnacion should be considered a lock for at least a four-year deal after seeing other defensively limited, mid-30s sluggers like Nelson Cruz ($57MM) and Victor Martinez ($68MM) pull in four-year pacts in recent offseasons. (For what it’s worth, I expect Encarnacion to top the total value of both of those contracts with ease.) The Blue Jays will make qualifying offers to both Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, per Heyman, though that’s long been the expectation for the pair of veteran sluggers.
More from the AL East…
- The Rays outrighted left-hander Dana Eveland last week, and the veteran reliever recently elected free agency, but he’s expected to re-sign with the team, per MLB.com’s Bill Chastain. “That’s the plan,” Eveland told Chastain when asked about a return. Eveland said he expects to be back in the fold in the near future, presumably on a minor league deal. Though the 33-year-old allowed 23 runs in 23 big league innings this season, he was lights out at Triple-A Durham, where he posted a 0.30 ERA (one earned run) with a 21-to-6 K/BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings. Eveland has bounced all over the league since debuting as a 21-year-old with the Brewers in 2005, and while he’s had difficulty sticking in one place, he’s been appealing enough to MLB clubs to have appeared in the Majors in all but one season since that 2005 debut. (He spent the 2013 season pitching in Korea.) Eveland has a 5.46 ERA in 446 1/3 big league innings split between 10 teams.
- Chastain also reports that the Rays informed longtime strength and conditioning coach Kevin Barr that they’re going in another direction next season. Barr offered praise for the organization and had kind words to say about his time there, but he joins former hitting coach Derek Shelton as members of the 2016 staff to be dismissed.
- MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko examined the Orioles’ arbitration-eligible players following the release of MLBTR’s arbitration projections earlier this week. While Kubatko notes that the likes of Chris Tillman, Zach Britton, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop and Kevin Gausman will obviously be tendered contracts, things are less certain for utilityman Ryan Flaherty, left-hander T.J. McFarland and right-hander Vance Worley — each of whom could be deemed to expensive and could be a non-tender candidate. Caleb Joseph figures to be the backup catcher next season based on his modest $1MM projection, even though he struggled tremendously in 2016. (Joseph did not hit a home run all season and, somewhat amazingly, did not collect a single RBI.) Of course, it remains to be seen exactly who will be the primary backstop for the Orioles in 2017.
Would 4/90 get it done?
Have to think market value will be 25-30 a season. Agent will push for 6-7 years for the slugging 1B -DH. 100 is the bare minimum he signs for.
$125,000,000 over five years?!!?
I don’t think so.
I would have to think 4 years $88 million would be the starting point. If he were just a DH it might be different but he is more than competent at first base so the National League is still in play. I would not be surprised if another team offered 5 and $25 per year.. That’s why I was hoping they would have offered 5/$100 million back in February – that sort of thing might have gotten done because EE likes Toronto and he may have snapped that up. Now it’s probably going to cost more and the Jays don;t have any good will left.
David Ortiz just had a great season at 40. I can envision the doc offering him 6-150 to make him jump ship. Jays have to be offer at least 5-125 to have a chance at signing him. I agree with you. I really wish the blue birds offered more in February as now he is hitting he open market and teams are going to be telling Edwin why he should sign with them and take their money.
Sox not doc.
Chris Davis got 7 years/$161M last offseason, 4 years younger than EE at signing, but EE is a better player; and the WC walkoff likely added to the payday. Keep in mind that Boston and NYY have holes at DH and a lot of money; if EE gets a commitment of less than $120M it would be a giant surprise.
I really doubt EE will go to the Sox or Yanks but that might just be wishful thinking
Davis is significantly younger than EE, so he’s not likely to get 7 years. He would probably get 5 from an AL team, though I can’t see an NL team giving him more than 4. He will likely get an AAV of $24MM+, I think.
Agreed, but I think a player with his stats is going to score 5/$125M without much difficulty.
I can see another big change in the Al East with all the free agent power hitting DHs. EE would be a good fit for the Yanks who don’t have a veteran DH and he would also be a good back up at first. With players like Ortiz, Bautista, Trumbo, and Napoli potential targets, it could change the landscape of many teams this winter.
NY just finished up with Teixeira and A-Rod. I don’t see them spending money on another aging DH. Boston has enough bats in the system they shouldn’t have to be in the DH market either, especially since they have money spent in Panda and no position for him right now.
I have a hard time seeing teams spending more than 3 years in Encarnacion at more than $17M to $20M a year. I could see a team spending more on 2 years aac and three years is lower per year. He didn’t break the .900 OPS mark this year… first sign of decline? No 4 year deals.
Bautista better accept the QO or expect to be waiting until June to be playing baseball.
Wrote this before and I’ll say it again since I keep seeing comments of EE possibly going to the Red Sox. He’s not. In fact, I can guarantee he’s not going to an AL East rival. For EE to come back to the AL East it would have to be as a Blue Jay- which is what he really prefers. He is willing to take a small discount to stay in Toronto. But he does have an idea of where he’d like to be if negotiations with Toronto fall through. How do I know you ask and have been asking? Let’s just say I’m familiar with someone within EE’s circle and I will neither confirm nor deny that I personally may or may not know EE! Sorry I can’t go much further than that but I will hunt to much more later on.
Now I don’t know ee or anyone that important but I do know that most of the times guys go were the $ is regardless of love of the team I’m not saying he will go to anyone in the al east but with huge holes (Boston and Ortiz) and the Yankees needing to make a splash being in NY and trying to return to relevancy and a boat load of $ coming off the books I wouldn’t rule anybody out of signing him he can say whatever he said to u and whoever $ and years have changes a lot of people’s minds
That’s just silly to say he won’t sign with an AL east team due to what loyalty to the Blue Jays cmon man he will sign with another Al East team if they offer more money. You are kidding yourself if you think he leaves the Al East due to loyalty to the Jays. If Boston or New York offer 5/125 and Toronto or no other team matches he will be Red Sox or Yankee in that scenario.
Never said he’s not signing in the AL East due to loyalty to the Jays. I said he’s not signing in the AL East if it’s not with the Jays. Don’t misquote what you can’t read properly. Him wanting to remain a Blue Jay is no surprise. He’s been saying that since last year. But him not wanting to go to Boston or New York has nothing to do with loyalty. Believe it or not, preference also has something to do with where a player signs. He knows he’ll get top dollar no matter what. And if it’s not in Toronto he’s more than willing to sacrifice a few million to play in a city he wants to play in. You do realize there are other teams outside of the AL East that have money, right!?
Yes but u completely dismiss the al east when I don’t think anyone would assume that especially a player whose played more than half his games as a dh last 2 seasons and teams that could have interest and a lot of $ would be foolish on anyone’s part regardless of what he says to anyone now while his team is in the alcs is irrelevant not saying he goes to one of them but even he isn’t dismissing it if one of those teams offer an extra year and or 20 plus million. Also u say no other teams I agree there’s others that have $ but u almost have to discount all of the nl with how much he’s played as a dh so what other teams are looking @ a dh and a great one at that that has an opening?
If he wanted to stay so badly, he would have told his agent to get him signed. He’s prepared to test the market. And considering that both the Yankees and Red Sox have (a) teams that are ready to contend; (b) recent or impending expiring contracts; (c) positional holes that fit acquiring EE, and (d) the desire to severely damage a divisional foe – you’re delusional if you don’t think the Jays are facing a serious challenge on keeping him away from the Sox or Yankees.
Don’t count the Cards out of the Double E market. He would be a perfect fit. Trade a bunch of prospects for Trout and they are right back in against the Cubs.
Matt Holliday would be perfect fit as a DH/ 1st base in the AL for Baltimore or the Angels.