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Edwin Encarnacion agrees to deal with Cleveland Indians
Free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion has agreed to a deal with the Cleveland Indians, according to multiple reports and confirmed by ESPN.
The deal is for three years and $60 million, with a fourth-year club option of $20 million or a $5 million buyout, according to multiple reports.
The Indians add Encarnacion to a team coming off its first World Series appearance since 1997, losing to the Cubs in seven games. He is likely to take the place of Mike Napoli as Cleveland's primary designated hitter.
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis tweeted that the deal felt like an early Christmas gift. "Thank you Santa," he wrote.
The deal is pending a physical, which reportedly will take place after the holidays.
Encarnacion, 33, will provide some much-needed muscle to the Indians' lineup, which had the second-fewest homers among playoff teams last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
He tied with David Ortiz for the American League lead with 127 RBIs in 2016, hitting a career-matching best 42 home runs and batting .263. A first baseman and designated hitter, he was an All-Star for the third time.
Encarnacion has 193 homers over the past five seasons, second only to the Orioles' Chris Davis (197). He also is the only player in the majors with at least 30 homers in each of the past five seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Earlier this week, Encarnacion's agent, Paul Kinzer, said in a radio interview with Sportsnet 590 The Fan that Encarnacion had multiyear offers from six teams, but that it was starting to sink in that he wouldn't return to Toronto, which was his goal entering free agency.
"It's not that there isn't interest in him, but we made it clear that Edwin wanted to return to Toronto, that's where he felt his home was," Kinzer said.
Kinzer said most of the offers Encarnacion had received were in the three-year range. The Athletics also reportedly were a finalist.
Kinzer said the Blue Jays did make an offer, but that wasn't until a day before the beginning of free agency and Encarnacion wanted to become a free agent and see which teams were interested in him.
After arriving in Toronto by trade from Cincinnati in 2009, Encarnacion signed a three-year, $29 million extension in 2013 and is coming off a team option at $10 million.
Encarnacion averaged 39 homers and 110 RBIs since 2012 and helped slug the Blue Jays to back-to-back appearances in the AL Championship Series. His 239 homers in Toronto rank third behind Carlos Delgado (336) and Jose Bautista (265) on the Blue Jays' career list.
Encarnacion's three-run drive in the 11th inning to beat Baltimore in the wild-card game this season gave Toronto one of its most indelible moments since Joe Carter's World Series walk-off gave the Blue Jays a second straight title in 1993.
Through his 12th season, Encarnacion has a career .266 average with 310 home runs and 942 RBIs for Cincinnati and Toronto.
The deal is for three years and $60 million, with a fourth-year club option of $20 million or a $5 million buyout, according to multiple reports.
The Indians add Encarnacion to a team coming off its first World Series appearance since 1997, losing to the Cubs in seven games. He is likely to take the place of Mike Napoli as Cleveland's primary designated hitter.
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis tweeted that the deal felt like an early Christmas gift. "Thank you Santa," he wrote.
The deal is pending a physical, which reportedly will take place after the holidays.
Encarnacion, 33, will provide some much-needed muscle to the Indians' lineup, which had the second-fewest homers among playoff teams last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
He tied with David Ortiz for the American League lead with 127 RBIs in 2016, hitting a career-matching best 42 home runs and batting .263. A first baseman and designated hitter, he was an All-Star for the third time.
Encarnacion has 193 homers over the past five seasons, second only to the Orioles' Chris Davis (197). He also is the only player in the majors with at least 30 homers in each of the past five seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Earlier this week, Encarnacion's agent, Paul Kinzer, said in a radio interview with Sportsnet 590 The Fan that Encarnacion had multiyear offers from six teams, but that it was starting to sink in that he wouldn't return to Toronto, which was his goal entering free agency.
"It's not that there isn't interest in him, but we made it clear that Edwin wanted to return to Toronto, that's where he felt his home was," Kinzer said.
Kinzer said most of the offers Encarnacion had received were in the three-year range. The Athletics also reportedly were a finalist.
Kinzer said the Blue Jays did make an offer, but that wasn't until a day before the beginning of free agency and Encarnacion wanted to become a free agent and see which teams were interested in him.
After arriving in Toronto by trade from Cincinnati in 2009, Encarnacion signed a three-year, $29 million extension in 2013 and is coming off a team option at $10 million.
Encarnacion averaged 39 homers and 110 RBIs since 2012 and helped slug the Blue Jays to back-to-back appearances in the AL Championship Series. His 239 homers in Toronto rank third behind Carlos Delgado (336) and Jose Bautista (265) on the Blue Jays' career list.
Encarnacion's three-run drive in the 11th inning to beat Baltimore in the wild-card game this season gave Toronto one of its most indelible moments since Joe Carter's World Series walk-off gave the Blue Jays a second straight title in 1993.
Through his 12th season, Encarnacion has a career .266 average with 310 home runs and 942 RBIs for Cincinnati and Toronto.