According to former New York Mets general manager and now MLB Network Radio analyst Steve Phillips, the Toronto Blue Jays are out on Edwin Encarnacion.
MLB source close to the negotiation tells our Steve Phillips the #BlueJays are OUT on Edwin Encarnacion.
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 5, 2016
With this news, it presents the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox as the likely favorites to make a run at the free-agent slugger. Various reports surfaced that Boston has shown interest in fellow free agent Pedro Alvarez and you could even speculate that a Mike Napoli reunion is possible.
As for Texas, the Rangers are always interested improving their offense at all costs and Encarnacion does that and then some.
The dark horse emerging today as a potential landing spot for Encarnacion is the Cleveland Indians. The American League champions could be a perfect fit as he could squeeze in between Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, and Francisco Lindor.
The main surprise in this report was the once favorite Blue Jays are out on the cornerstone who has hit 193 home runs over the last five years. This should shift their main focus to re-signing Jose Bautista. Jon Morosi of FOX Sports also reported that Encarnacion’s agent, Paul Kintzer, shared that he’s waited his whole life to hit free agency and he’s disappointed in the Steve Pearce signing.
Paul Kinzer: “Edwin loved Toronto. He hoped to go back. But he waited his whole career for free agency and wanted to see what’s out there.”
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 5, 2016
Edwin Encarnacion spoke today with his agent, Paul Kinzer, following Jays’ signing of Pearce. “He’s disappointed,” Kinzer said. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 5, 2016
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