The Boston Red Sox appear to be the frontrunner to make a significant push at signing Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion, especially with David Ortiz retiring at the end of 2016, according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball.com. The Texas Rangers and New York Yankees also reportedly have interest in signing Encarnacion.
The Blue Jays were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday, meaning Encarnacion will now enter free agency. At the 2009 trade deadline, the Blue Jays acquired Encarnacion, along with two prospects, from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Scott Rolen. Up until that point, Encarnacion was a good not great player. Once he was sent north of the border, he developed into one of the most potent power hitters in the American League.
He has reached at least 34 HRs in five straight seasons and has made the AL all-star team in four straight seasons. However, with Encarnacion turning 34 in January, the Blue Jays have to decide whether or not to re-sign him. Fellow teammate Jose Bautista is also entering free agency, which makes the situation a bit more complicated. The Blue Jays have limited resources and will most likely be unable to re-sign both platers. Which player the Blue Jays prefer to bring back to Toronto remains unclear at this point.
Having said that, the Blue Jays’ interest—or lack thereof—in bringing Encarnacion back has not stopped other teams from preparing to make a serious run at his services. As mentioned, this includes the Yankees, who will have neither Mark Teixeira or Alex Rodriguez on their roster next season for the first time since 2003. Encarnacion would add a much-needed right handed power bat to the Yankees lineup. However, whether it makes sense for the Yankees to make a serious bid for Encarnacion is a different story.
Encarnacion is heading toward the back end of his career, so he does not exactly fit into the Yankees’ “youth movement.” On top of this, with Gary Sanchez locking down the starting catcher role for the Yankees, Brian McCann appears destined to DH in 2017 (unless he is traded). Signing Encarnacion would be nice and certainly would improve the Yankees’ chances of competing in 2017, but it would not help their long-term plan. It might actually hurt it. The Yankees want to have as much salary space available for the 2018 offseason when the likes of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are available. New York is no longer the free-spending evil empire that signs anyone and everyone. It is a nice thought, but the Yankees should restrain from impulsively throwing money at the aging Encarnacion.
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