When the Blue Jays signed designated hitter Kendrys Morales to a three-year, $33MM contract last week, it appeared free agent Edwin Encarnacion’s illustrious tenure with the franchise was all but over. Encarnacion is coming off back-to-back campaigns in which he spent more time at DH than first base, after all, and the soon-to-be 34-year-old will likely need to continue as a bat-first option as he keeps aging.
[RELATED: Encarnacion’s Free Agent Profile]
Although having two expensive DH types on a roster isn’t ideal, the Blue Jays are nonetheless interested in re-signing Encarnacion, FanRag’s Jon Heyman reported earlier this week. General manager Ross Atkins indicated after signing Morales that he could see a “good deal” of time in the field, which has been a rare occurrence over the past couple seasons, and that would seem to open the door to the possibility of him and Encarnacion coexisting.
If necessary, the Blue Jays appear prepared to adjust to having Morales and Encarnacion divvy up time between DH and first, but it’ll obviously be a moot point if they’re unable to re-sign the latter. Before Toronto locked up Morales, it made a four-year offer in the neighborhood of $80MM to Encarnacion, who unsurprisingly rejected it. As arguably the premier hitter on the open market, Encarnacion seems like a shoo-in to exceed that dollar figure. MLBTR projects a $92MM deal for Encarnacion, though an accord worth upward of $100MM doesn’t seem out of the question with the the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Astros and some National League teams reportedly chasing him.
Encarnacion has been a spectacular hitter since his 2012 breakout, having slashed .272/.367/.544 in 3,133 plate appearances. He also ranks second in the majors in home runs (193) and third in ISO (.273) over that five-year span, and has further impressed with a 12.5 percent walk rate against a 15.1 percent strikeout mark. Encarnacion is now coming off a year in which he hit a career-high-tying 42 homers and appeared in a personal-best 160 regular-season games, but his still-excellent .263/.357/.529 slash stands as his least productive line during his half-decade run as an elite offensive weapon.
Despite his tremendous output over the past several seasons, the fact that Encarnacion’s an aging, one-dimensional player could significantly weaken his value in the coming years and make his deal an albatross down the line, as both Dave Cameron and Craig Edwards of FanGraphs wrote earlier this month. The Blue Jays’ front office is likely mindful of the risks that would accompany re-signing Encarnacion, though losing him and replacing him with the likes of Morales and first baseman Justin Smoak (and perhaps an outside acquisition) would probably damage the team’s short-term chances on the heels of back-to-back playoff seasons.
With Encarnacion having rejected a qualifying offer from the Blue Jays, they’ll receive a first-round pick if he signs elsewhere, so they’re in position to walk away with a potentially useful long-term asset if the slugger departs. The question is: Will he leave Toronto?
(Poll link for Trade Rumors App users)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
It’s so unlikely. He’s more likely to sign with the Red Sox or the rangers imo
Red Sox don’t appear all that big on signing him and the list of suitors isn’t what was expected. Toronto just may (have to) sign him.
You’re kidding. Part of the issue is the lingering questions surrounding the CBA. Otherwise, there are likely 5-6 teams seriously interested, with at least two or three willing to shell out max cash (even if the Red Sox were maybe 5th or 6th interested). If it somehow came down to the Jays “being forced” to sign him, you better believe the Red Sox would swoop in and snatch him up at a cheaper price.
How about the Royals? They have already proven their bullpen is superb and they need a little something more on offense
Obviously dh not first base with Hosmer
How about the Expos?
more likely than the Royals.
I know, seriously..
Royals won’t pay the price and they have upcoming free agents to worry about
Considering Hosmer, Cain, Moustakas, Escobar, Davis and Duffy are all FAs after 2017, KC has to be on the verge of a tear down. I can’t see them making any long term commitments this offseason unless it’s to their own players. And unless KC is in the thick of it in late June, there could definitely be a fire sale.
The Royals should be sellers since they won’t beat the Indians and Tigers the next few years. By selling now they can get some good prospects and rebuild, they won’t be able to resign most of their players moving forward.
Why trade them now though why not wait till the deadline if there’s no chance? A lot of times you get more @ the deadline than the off-season plus more $ by hopefully being somewhat competitive and try to essentially do what the Yankees did this year.
I think the Blue Jays probably made their best offer. Toronto has never been a team to beat the market or overpay in free agency(minus a couple J.P. Ricciardi signings) with a young core of players who will be getting raises over the next few seasons, it’s a delicate balance. In my personal opinion less money can be spent elsewhere to make the team stronger(outfield, bullpen) as much as I’d love to see him back. The Jays, I think, would benefit in the short and long term getting a bit younger, and more athletic with a bit of speed. They have a good pitching staff which also could use a bit of depth. Unless Rogers is just going to give Atkins a blank cheque, I’d say, since they likely made their best offer(which was apparently leaked) it up to Edwin how badly he wants to return and leave some money on the table.
When I see “poll” in the title…I expect an actual poll question. I highly dislike when there is no button to push.
There is a “button to push”. If you’re on the mobile app though, you won’t be able to see it. I would suggest going to the website on Safari or whatever browser you have if you’re on mobile and doing the poll there.
Oh…now that makes sense, and no sense at the same time. MLBtr…your app has a glitch!
I’m on my android phone and see the link so not sure what you guys are seeing.
I think the Jays really would like to have him back, but not at any price. I think it’s possible they add $$$ to the pot but doubt very much they’d add years. Edwin (and his agent) says that money isn’t the most important thing in the decision making process and that his first choice is to remain in Toronto (don’t they all, though). Is this true, or just more of the usual player/agent off-season negotiation BS. I guess we’ll see.
Not very likely that EE resigns. FO has said that they want to rebuild the farm system, get younger, and more balanced. Signing EE does not of that. if they let him walk they get a comp pick, sign a much cheaper 1B option for a 1-2 yr term and especially important the new FO can totally remake the team with the old Anthoupolus stigma over it.
You’re right, but if they still believe that they can field a winner (and I think they do) then Edwin has more value, for the next 4 yrs, than anybody they will get with the comp pick. They will still get 2 “first rounders” to stock the farm with, because for all the reasons you just stated, they will not re-sign Bautista.
I would like to see the bluejays make a run at abreu from the Sox’s. He is younger a true first baseman who can play everyday. I’d rather they pick up he’s full contract and maybe a small farm piece or two. The Sox really want to unload payroll, he is a better defensive option and he really needs a change of scenery and could easily hit 30+ home runs
With the qo changing he’ll have more of a market and it’s next to impossible when morales hasn’t played the field more than 31 games since 2010 the same year Edwin encarnacion played more than 82 games in the field unless the new cba includes a second dh there’s no room for him. They’re only talking to him to raise his contract .
He’s going to the Yankees. Deadly hitter who might even be better in the Bronx, and it keeps him off the Red Sox and Jays and even the Orioles, though I don’t see the Orioles as big pursuers anyway.
Sure, just let rhe Yankees sign all the top free agents. Quarter billion dollar rosters are great for baseball.
I didn’t say it was fair, just what I think will happen. Even so, their starting pitching isn’t good and buying a roster has proven to not equal being the best team.
It’s worked so well for the Yankees in the post steroid era. Why does it matter let them waist $
I hope not.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the Mariners got him and played Cruz in RF/DH and EE at 1B/DH, they have too many lefties in Gamel, Smith and Martin, one of those guys could be traded to make room for more OF PT for Cruz.
SS Segura
2B Cano
DH Cruz
1B Encarnacion
3B Seager
RF Valencia
CF Martin
LF Haniger
C Zunino
Heck of a batting lineup, if you can stomach the bad D in 1B and RF.
I sincerely doubt Dipoto has changed his position on having a good defensive team. Don’t hold your breath.
They also sound pretty content with giving vogelbach the abs vs rh and Valencia vs lefties. I would think if they’re spending it’d be more for a reliever maybe a dark horse for chapman malancon Jansen or even a starter maybe hill before being a contender for encarnacion.
I think he’s a perfect fit for the Rangers,and can see the Jays going after a Steve Pearce type
I doubt the Yankees are chasing him.
I would be upset if the Red Sox gave him 100 million. I’d rather them save money to extend the young studs and to save money for the ’18-19′ offseasons which are insanely stacked with star FA’s
How excited were you when the RedSox gave Price 1 Billion dollars or something like that… Bet you fist pumped!
I’m still confused about what his market really is at this point. The Red Sox have stated they’d rather have some flexibility at DH and the other teams mentioned often are just ‘said to have interest’. That being said I feel like the Yankees might be the best fit. I can’t possibly see any NL teams getting seriously involved.
The reason everyone is confused as to what the markets will actually be for these guys is the lack of a new CBA being agreed upon. Once that happens teams will start to be more serious in their offers and markets will develop. Without the CBA there is to many unanswered questions to make any huge signings. At least not if they are smart.
Considering factors of age, contract expectations and the draft pick – it seems better than average chance he resigns with the Jays
Astros sign him 5/105,000 with a 2 year opt out.
The Astros will not sign Edwin because they have already spent a lot of money this offseason and the Blue Jays is where he belongs especially after this past season. My guess is he stays in Toronto