Although free-agent designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion is one of baseball’s most prolific sluggers over the past several years, there is no guarantee he will suit up in the majors again. Encarnacion wants to play two more seasons, but as a defensively limited 38-year-old coming off a brutal campaign with the White Sox, it’s possible no team will sign him this year. If there’s no universal DH in 2021, it would further hurt Encarnacion’s cause, as he acknowledged to Hector Gomez of Z Sports 101 in the Dominican Republic.
“The decision that there will be no universal DH in the 2021 season has greatly affected my chances of signing,” Encarnacion said. “I want a team to give me the opportunity to play daily to show that I can still produce.”
Indeed, the lack of a DH in the NL would lead to fewer potential suitors for Encarnacion. Either way, considering how his 2020 went, it would be difficult to imagine any team guaranteeing an everyday role to Encarnacion. He hit a career-worst .157/.250/.377 in 181 plate appearances, though Encarnacion did continue to show off above-average power (10 home runs, .220 ISO). He’s also just two years removed from recording a line of .244/.344/.531 with 34 homers and a .287 ISO in 486 PA between the Mariners and Yankees. That was Encarnacion’s eighth straight season with both 30-plus homers and terrific overall offensive production.
It may be too soon to write Encarnacion off as a result of the struggles he endured over a small sample of work in 2020, though it’s worth pointing out he also had an awful year by Statcast’s standards as well. For instance, Encarnacion posted a .372 expected weighted on-base average in 2019, but that figure plummeted to .268 last year as his exit velocity fell to near the bottom of the league (85.4 mph) and his strikeout rate soared to 29.8 percent.
It may take a spring rebound as a non-roster invitee to earn his way back for a 17th big league season, although injuries in camp could always open a more solid opportunity. Speculatively speaking, the A’s at least represent an on-paper fit for a low-cost roll of the dice after dealing Khris Davis earlier this month.
Could see the A’s grabbing this guy.
I could too but EE would have to sign for like $5M.
it’s probably not a guarantee that he wants other than the opportunity.
H would take league minimum. Nobody dumb enough to pay him anywhere near 5 mill. Minor league contract with invite to spring training with league minimum if he makes team
Can the fans just start a petition to bring the dh to the nl and get it down with once and for all? This is just dumb dragging it on and leaving teams and free agents hanging after having it last year.
Equally there should be a petition then for those of us who don’t want the DH in the NL.
I mean is it really necessary to alienate a portion of your fanbase so a guy who can only do one facet of the game anymore- and is slipping at that- has a job?
i love seeing people who think they speak for everyone saying they want the DH. the reality is most people would simply just be resigned to it rather then really want it, and i still dont believe more true NL fans want it then don’t (as far as im concerned any AL fan who wants the DH in the NL should stay in their lane)
I want the universal dh
Very well said @Appalachian_outlaw. Not everyone wants the DH and I think the AL should abolish the DH. You bat, you field, simple as that.
Could you not make the same argument that pitchers are single-faceted as well? And that there is no need for them to hit?
As an old school baseball fan I was initially against the NL DH position when they first started to talk about it, now that I have seen it in a small sample I kind of like it, I totally get both sides though.
You don’t need a petition because there is probably 99.999% chance it’s included in the next CBA
Or we can just get rid of it in the American league and make pitchers hit again in the minors…even a 4 man rotation soubds good now toi.
These Pitchers today can barely survive throwing five innings every five or six days, there is no way a four man rotation works in today’s game.
The Rays could sign him and he can get some playing time at first base and be the DH. He could get 2-5 million for a year. I am also wondering where Cole Hamels will pitch this coming season, I think Cleveland would be a good fit.
I am all for the dh, It is extremely boring watching the pitcher come to the plate just to strike out, or hit a weak ground ball. Not sure what the overall average would be for all the pitcher ab’s in a season but it has to be sub .150ish. It’s boring for me to watch personally
As an A’s fan, I hate interleague when your seventh place hitter gets a double. You start to get excited and then see that the eighth place hitter will get walked and the pitcher will make the third out. Another thing is pitchers get hurt enough as it is–look at Barry Zito, he had perfect mechanics and got a big contract because his agent argued he’d never get injured. So what happens? he gets his foot stepped on running to first and is out two months.
As a Braves fan, I don’t like Interleague play either. I hate watching a DH game. I get your point that it’s not the style you’re used to, and I understand. Easy solution- let’s do away with Interleague play. AL keeps their DH, and leave the NL alone. Make the World Series feel special again.
If you get rid of interleague play, you will constantly have two teams sitting for 2-4 days at a time. Would have to have another expansion before that was even feasible.
He’s done ability wise but he had a great hall of very good career (i guess if Baines got in, there’s a chance?)
It would be neat to see him get there eventually. 424 career HR; if he were able to play at least 2-3 more years, a la Nelson Cruz, it would be tough to keep him out if he got to 500.
Of course, then there are guys like Carlos Delgado (473 career HRs in an injury-shortened career), who was a better player and was screwed by the BBWAA. So, who knows anymore.
At first read, I thought that was nuts, Delgado in HOF! But looking at stats, he does have good baseball card stats and an even mixes OBP. But comps are not on his side. Few HOFers here.
Jason Giambi
Willie Stargell
Jeff Bagwell
Jose Canseco
Fred McGriff (I know one commented on here would agree he should be in!)
Paul Konerko
Mark Teixeira
Willie McCovey
Jim Edmonds
Andres Galarraga
An argument could be made, I’d listen
Edmonds is the reason why they need more turnover in the HOF voting.
He had a career 132 OPSA+, 393 HRs, and 8 GGs in CF. Torii Hunter has 9 GGs in CF, but only a 110 OPS+, and Hunter gets more than 3x as many votes in his first year?
I’m hoping the Veteran’s Committee puts Edmonds in. He’s deserving. Good offensive numbers, especially for his position. Add in defense and to me he’s HoF.
How about Lou Whitaker not even getting 5%.
A lot of players are more deserving then baines and Morris. Delgado Edmonds shouldn’t be easy ins but they deserve far more of a chance then they got.
Bagwell is in already and Giambi an Canseco used PEDs. I agree with a lot of the others though.
@sheep. McGriff definitely should be in. Played during the roid era and never heard anything suggesting he used. His stats never had any Mickey Mouse spikes either. I think eventually the veterans committee let’s him in. Whittaker and Lofton should also be in.
Glad to see I’m not the only person who thinks Fred McGriff should be in. 493 career homers, and I remember reading about him near the end of his career that he wanted to sign with someone to reach 500 and that he was proud that none of the 493 were tainted because he chose not to take PED’s. I also completely agree about one of my Indians (and so many other teams!!), Kenny Lofton, and would love to see Sweet Lou Whitaker join old mate Alan Trammel in the Hall. What longtime problems those two were for my Indians!!!!
McGriff and Edmonds should both be in. McGriff was a steady offensive threat good for 30/100 every year even before the PED’s explosian.
Edmonds played outstanding defense at a premium defensive position while also being a middle of the order offensive force.
Delgado is underrated mostly because of the fact that he played most of his career in Toronto and his numbers are what you would expect for a First Baseman. If he had stayed a Catcher or an Outfielder he might already be in the HoF
Check out aAlbert Belle’s numbers sometime
Crazy sick numbers
His first 2,731 AB’s he averages a HR every 23.34 AB’s Then, miraculously, he somehow since then has averaged a HR every 12.9 AB’s and slugging goes up .100
Must have done a swing change.
If he wants to play daily, he should’ve been learning how to play defense.
Hes 38, not many position players at age 38. He used to be a average defensive 3b when Jay’s traded for him for Scott Rolen
Oooh, no he was not an average defensive 3B. There is a reason he was moved across the diamond.
Lol his nickname is E5. He wasn’t good at 3B.
He should at least be able to get an invite to spring training. A team like the Red Sox should look into bringing him aboard. If he does ok flip him at the deadline
He’s a DH only and Martinez has that locked down.
Jd play dh where would you put him?
I know he’s 38, but some team really should take a chance on him. He’s only a year removed from hitting 34 home runs and having a .875 OPS and 131 OPS+. You’re not really running any risk on a cheap one year $3-$5 million deal.
The problem is that he’s so one-dimensional. Then you’re also taking away valuable development opportunities from younger players.
I concur he’d be a great fit on the A’s this year with the trade of Khris Davis.
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When his price plummets and he gets desperate, that’s when he will consider the Rays. The Rays way.
I would bet teams like Oakland, TB & KC are watching in wait. If he would take a 1yr deal for 2M or under all of them and probably more would be knocking on his door.
EE’s problem is that he’s pretty much a one-tool player at this point – power. He can’t run, he can’t play in the field, and he can’t hit for average.
And frankly, he looked cooked last year with the White Sox, failing to square up pitches in the zone.
I don’t think he is a starting DH at this point, but I could see a rebuilding team with nothing to lose taking him as a possible deadline flip candidate, especially if there is a universal DH.
Don’t believe there will be anything to flip. Minor league deal with invite. If he can’t square up hang em up. If you want to make him feel good incentive laden deal if he makes the squad.
DH has to come to both leagues, enough is enough. It’s costing players jobs and not having it makes the game less exciting. I don’t want to see hitters pitch when they are paid to hit. Just like I don’t want to see pitchers hit when they are paid to pitch.
you’re really that bothered that Edwin doesn’t have a starting job after last year? I for one don’t need to see the 16th-30th best defensively limited players that would otherwise be out of a starting job at the expense of pitchers hitting and all the other quirks that come with a lack of a DH.
I agree with what you saying darkisde, but I dont think the poster was making the argument for EE’s sake just in general. I personal like when the dh is used for roster flexibility and giving guys days off, I think a team is at a disadvantage when they have a player signed who can only dh. But i dont enjoy watching pitchers hit so for that reason I am all for the universal dh but can see why people would want it the way it is
When did everything become specialized in your mind? I don’t see Hitters being paid to hit, or pitchers being paid to pitch… I see players being paid to play baseball. I don’t want the DH because I want to see guys play the entire game. I don’t want to see benches marginalized, either.
DH can make the game more interesting if the team has a DH worth playing.
I’m fine with universal DH, but I think a lot of teams are going to be very disappointed with the production they get. Very few players are able to stay focused as a full-time DH, which is another reason I don’t mind Baines being in the Hall of Fame.
Trust me, as a WS fan, I’ve seen the hot mess the DH has been since Jim Thome left ten years ago, and that includes EE.
It is NOT costing jobs. If you have a 25 man roster, than there are 25 jobs whether you have a DH or not. You don’t need a DH to increase the roster to 26, just the will. What the DH does is to keep otherwise unemployable players employed.
Baseball has gotten far less exciting as the philosophy of the game has changed to power: power pitching and power hitting, strikeouts or home runs, yawn. There is more excitement at a Little League game than there is at most MLB games.
Loved watching him on the Jays. Him and Bautista made a great pair of sluggers. It is about time he hung them up though.
The Rockies should bring him in. Nothing to lose and we could all see lots of 500 foot home runs.
Rox are one of my teams, so I hope not. Aside from the fact that he’d have to play the field, guys like this are annoying because they take away at-bats from young guys that need the experience. Sox had like a million guys that I would have much rather seen in place of him last year.
Time to retire
the parrot has gotten too heavy to carry.
Father Time remains undefeated.
The A’s will sign him for one year for 2,000 dollars
Edwin had been a traditionally slow starter. He always seem to be near 40 hrs when he got his AB’s. But therein lays the problem. Just not a spot for him.
Very true, when with the Jays it would take him 150abs to get going then the rest of the season he would rake.
I would love to see him in an Orioles uniform but that will probably not happen. But on a realistic side the A’s look like a good fit.
I would like to see a rule that states the HOME team chooses whether the DH is used (announced 24 hours before game time).
If you have a Cruz/ Ortiz type DH, you’ll use it every time. Conversely, if you’re playing those teams, let the pitchers hit and keep them on the bench.
If you have a rookie making his first big league start, let him focus on pitching. Conversely, if the opposition has a rookie, make him hit.
I support as much layered strategy as possible.
Wow, you could also add a rule that the home team gets to decide the lineup for both teams.
When you can’t construct a valid argument, troll, troll away…
Houston should take a shot on EE. Play a couple days a week giving Gurriel and Alvarez a rest when needed.
EE was an absolute beast from 2012 onward. Look forward to seeing him on the Blue Jays level of excellence with Bautista and hopefully Henke and Key.
Tampa bro
I’d vote for just a 8 man batting lineup and remove the pitcher all together EE was brutal last and needs to stay down in the DR and retire.
Tampa or Oakland.
As a sox fan id be okay with adding him on a cheap deal and seeing Martinez play more outfield and Edwin play a few games at first. He might be old but he can still rake. And if nobody wants him im sure he will come cheap
If the White Sox had signed RF Yasiel Puig last offseason rather than traded for RF Nomar Mazara and/or signed DH Edwin Encarnacion, they might have finished the 2020 season in first place, advanced further in the postseason and still have Rick Renteria as their manager. Since Puig was likely signing a 2+ year contract last winter the White Sox might have also passed on re-signing RF Adam Eaton this past offseason.
This is all speculative, revisionist history, one that also saw Puig test positive for COVID-19 after agreeing to a later summer contract with the Braves at their Intake Screening that nullified the deal. Had that occurred in Chicago it likely would have just put him on the IL along with Yoan Moncada and Jose Ruiz who also tested positive, along with Mazara who reportedly had a bad case case of strep throat which basically ruined his 2020 season.
For those unaware, the White Sox were in serious conversation with Puig and his representatives at last offseasons Winter Meetings and were said to be impressed with him. They had reportedly also vetted Puig with fellow Cubans Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal who had each recently signed free agent contract with the White Sox. Grandal’s endorsement was of particular interest since he was a teammate of Puig with the Dodgers for 4 years from 2015-2018.
Like Encarnacion, Puig is still waiting for a call from an MLB team as I post, famously now having the same agent in Rachel Luba who negotiated Trevor Bauer’s recent contract with the Dodgers. Unlike EE, Puig doesn’t need to rely on a universal DH to increase his chances of signing a free agent contract. He simply needs to lower his monetary expectations after not having played in 2020 along with some of the ‘baggage’ he has accumulated over the course of his career.
Interestingly enough, the White Sox may yet be one of his better options for 2021 with some remaining uncertainty with their own designated hitter role to open the season along with the notion of having a more versatile option like Puig available in order to get defensively challenged and injury prone slugger Eloy Jimenez less time out on the grass and more as a DH. Puig would provide much more athleticism and defensive acumen than Jimenez in LF along with having a strong arm that could see him spell Eaton in RF. The White Sox preference would be to add a right-handed masher to a batting order that still leans too right-handed but Puig provides moderate reverse splits that hits RHP pitcher better than LHP’s. However, his splits versus southpaws are also significantly better the number Eaton posts again lefties making Puig an even more attractive option for the White Sox at both corners.
Not sure how a filibuster about Puig was generated when the article was about EE – but it was informative and I have always enjoyed Aaron’s narratives about the White Sox.
Seems to me EE expects there will be a universal DH in 2022, as do many folks, and he’d like to hang on this year to test the waters again next year with more opportunities for his skill set. Along with Oakland, I could maybe see Seattle and Baltimore as potential fits. Baltimore has a hitting-friendly park, and they both seem like teams that would be glad to play him if he’s effective to jack up his value for a deadline flip.
Regarding Puig – I like his skill set a lot, 20/20 type with a rocket arm. I was hoping that Minnesota would grab him as Rosario’s replacement. Fellow Cuban and legendary Twin Tony Oliva would be helpful in establishing some guardrails during spring training.