Reports say Encarnacion wants new deal in place
NASHVILLE— After years of being looked upon as one of the best bargains and with one of baseball’s most club-friendly contracts, slugger Edwin Encarnacion is reportedly preparing to set an end-ofspring-training deadline for the Blue Jays to negotiate a multi-year extension.
If that doesn’t get done, he will become a free agent at the end of the 2016 season.
This was first reported by WEEI in Boston on Monday afternoon, citing multiple major-league sources. Coincidentally, Encarnacion’s free agency would dovetail with the retirement of David Ortiz and with the Red Sox needing a new DH.
As of Monday afternoon, the Jays had yet to be notified by Encarnacion’s agents, but there was no surprise in the response from Jays vice-president Tony LaCava, who was running Monday’s daily media session at the Opryland Hotel.
He seemed neither shocked nor panicked about a possible deadline.
“We haven’t heard anything from Edwin about that, but that being said, obviously we would respect that,” LaCava said. “He’s a great player that we’d like to keep with us. But, obviously, with free agency looming next year he’s got his options. When he decides to tell us what the rules of engagement are, we’ll respect that. “We’d have to look at anything.” Encarnacion has long been regarded as one of the top students of hitting, with a strong and admired work ethic by coaches and teammates. He has played second fiddle to flamboyant teammate Jose Bautista, to the point of even signing an extension in July 2012 that mirrored his more famous teammate. A deal that included three years plus a 2016 option but at lesser dollar figures.
When Encarnacion first arrived in Toronto at the trade deadline in 2009, he was regarded as a mere throw-in, a salary dump by the Cincinnati Reds the Jays were asked to eat in order to complete the Scott Rolen trade for two young pitching prospects.
It was only after the Blue Jays moved Encarnacion from third base to first years later that his career took off, as he was then able to focus primarily on hitting.
Encarnacion will earn $10 million (U.S.) in the option year of a $39-million contract negotiated by former GM Alex Anthopoulos, that paid him $8 million, $9 million then $10 million from 2013-15 with a $2-million buyout.
At the same time, with the Jays picking up his 2016 option season, he has looked on as he further slid down the financial depth chart to become the sixth-highest paid Blue Jay, tied with starting pitcher J.A. Happ.
But even Happ has two more guaranteed years at $13 million each moving forward.
“Ten million bucks is a lot of money, but when you look at Eddie’s production over the last few years, it’s really a bargain,” Jays manager John Gibbons said. “When they first signed him (to an extension) it was sort of a leap of faith for the organization and Eddie to sign it for what he had accomplished to that point and for what the organization thought he was going to do. But the organization made out alright, that’s for sure.
“There’s a lot more money for Eddie to make before it’s all said and done. As far as if he tests the waters, who knows? We got a taste of (winning) last year, but we need for him to be good this year. I saw a different Eddie in the second half after we made those (trades), kind of rejuvenated and he took off. I think he’ll be excited coming into this year, because we won and the fact he will be a free agent.”
Who has done more for the Jays since 2012?
Encarnacion’s three-year totals: .272 average, 109 homers, 313 RBIs and a .912 slugging average. At 33, he has about four productive seasons left. Those ahead of Encarnacion on the club’s pay scale include shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, catcher Russell Martin, Bautista and starters R.A. Dickey, Marco Estrada and Happ.
Bautista’s offensive numbers over the same three seasons are very similar: .266 average, 103 home runs, 290 RBIs and a .902 OPS. Arguably they have been the top power duo in any baseball lineup over the past three seasons. Surely if Encarnacion gets his extension Bautista, who is two years older and also playing out his contract in 2016, would follow suit for similar numbers, if not higher.
“We haven’t ruled anything out on (Edwin) or (Bautista) or any of the guys that are going to be free agents after next year,” LaCava said.
“We haven’t engaged with anything yet. Those guys are special players and we’re fortunate to have them both and their power — then you add Josh Donaldson as well. I mean we’re pretty fortunate to have the type of right-handed power. But that being said, it is a commodity and the market for it continues to rise. At some point, they’re going to be eligible for free agency. To stop them from getting there, you’re going to obviously have to pay the price.”
Being perfectly clear, if it happens, Encarnacion is not threatening to withhold his services from the Jays, neither is he wanting to re-negotiate. He simply would like an extension, beginning in 2017, commensurate with what others around the game are making. That’s fair. The Jays have several choices should Encarnacion’s agent come calling.
They can work out an extension at spring training, they can allow him to play out the year or they can trade him prior to the season or as the trade deadline approaches if the club is not competing like it did this past season.
But for now, Encarnacion remains a huge part of the most productive lineup in baseball.