Tribe Ed-win the bidding
Reports: Encarnacion gets 3-year, $60M deal
Edwin Encarnacion, perhaps the top free-agent hitter on the market, is on his way to Cleveland, according to reports.
Encarnacion, who hit 42 homers last season for the Blue Jays, reportedly agreed with the Indians on a threeyear, $60 million deal with a team option for a fourth year and another $20 million or a $5 million buyout.
It was a rocky free agency for Encarnacion, who will turn 34 in January.
He reportedly turned down a four-year $80 million deal from the Blue Jays early in free agency to test the market. But other bigmarket teams in search of power — including the Yankees — went elsewhere, in part because of a lack of clarity about the new collec- tive bargaining agreement that was adopted at the end of November.
That left Encarnacion with limited options, especially after the Blue Jays signed Kendrys Morales for three years and $33 million earlier in the offseason.
Encarnacion also was hurt by the fact that whoever signed him would lose a draft pick because he turned down a qualifying offer from Toronto worth $17.2 million.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made it clear throughout the offseason he didn’t want to sacrifice a draft pick for a free agent, although his club had discussions with Encarnacion.
The Indians, who lost to the Cubs in the World Series in seven games, likely will use Encarnacion as a replacement for Mike Napoli at designated hitter and first baseman.
Encarnacion also had 127 RBIs last season.
The Athletics, Astros, Rockies and Rangers also were linked to Encarnacion, who had been one of the most consistent offensive forces in the American League.
It’s clearly good news for a team that already was a force in the AL.
And it makes life more difficult for teams such as the Yankees, who signed Matt Holliday to a one-year deal worth $12 million this month. They looked to avoid a long-term contract that might have had an impact on their free-agent search two years from now, when sluggers such as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado could be available and the Yankees look to make an expensive splash.
With Encarnacion off to Cleveland and Yoenis Cespedes staying with the Mets after signing a new deal, Mark Trumbo and Jose Bautista are the biggest bats remaining on the market.
The one-dimensional Trumbo, despite hitting 47 homers for the Orioles last season, can be a liability in the outfield and strikes out a ton. That hasn’t helped his attempt at finding a landing spot thanks to increasing importance placed on defense and on-base percentage, as well as the fact that he’s played his home games at homer-happy Camden Yards.
Bautista, 36, also received a qualifying offer from Toronto, so he would cost the team that signs him a draft pick, as well and also is looking for a multi-year deal.