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Encarnacion's free-agent market is reportedly dwindling

Chase Kell
Edwin Encarnacion’s agent says the slugger was surprised to see Toronto had moved so quickly to replace him.
Edwin Encarnacion’s agent says the slugger was surprised to see Toronto had moved so quickly to replace him.

When he turned down a four-year, $80-million contract offer from the Toronto Blue Jays, Edwin Encarnacion had every reason to believe his free-agent market would be robust.

He enjoyed a monster season in 2016, with career highs set in runs (99), hits (158), home runs (42) and RBIs (127), and despite being on the wrong side of 30, Encarnacion’s resume seemed to justify his lofty contract demands – reportedly set at five years, $125 million.

Fast forward to MLB’s annual Winter Meetings and Encarnacion doesn’t appear to be finding any takers. According to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, it looks like that four-year, $80-million offer from Toronto might have been the best Encarnacion is going to get.

Three years at $60 million is 25 per cent less than what Toronto had offered, and after the Blue Jays picked up Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce, circling back to Toronto may not be in the cards. In fact, Encarnacion is said to be “disappointed” at how quickly the Blue Jays had moved to replace him.

Encarnacion’s camp is apparently still busy at work, though, as teams such as the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies are reportedly showing interest. But the market appears to have given Encarnacion nothing but cold comfort, and as teams continue to balk at the $20-million annual salary, that four-year, $80-million offer from Toronto could backfire as a blown opportunity.