Ecarnacion ready to provide big bat

GOODYEAR, ARIZ. >> As fans lining the chain-linked fence next to Cleveland’s main practice field jockeyed for better position to snatch an autograph or selfie with the team’s newest star, Edwin Encarnacion showed no emotion.

With his glove balanced on his head, Encarnacion signed baseballs, bats, cards and whatever else was thrust in front of him. He didn’t seem to be enjoying himself and appeared disinterested, distant.

That’s when one fan pleaded for a little more.

“Hey,” he told Encarnacion. “You know you can smile. You’re with Cleveland now.”

On cue, Encarnacion beamed a smile that brightened an otherwise gray day in the desert.

There’s a lot of toothy grins on display these days with the Indians, whose signing of Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million contract — the richest in team history — as a free agent this winter gives the AL champions a middle-of-the-order slugger unlike any they’ve had since Albert Belle, Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez anchored some of those potent Cleveland teams in the 1990s.

After eight seasons in Toronto, Encarnacion has a new home — and an unexpected one.

“I made the decision to come here, because here I have the opportunity to win the World Series.” – Indians slugger Edwin Encarnacion, on the decision to join the American League champions in the offseason

ROSS D. FRANKLIN — ASSOCIATED PRESS Edwin Encarnacion heads to another field after batting at the Indians’ spring training facility Feb. 20 in Goodyear, Ariz.