The Warning Track: Is 2016 the End of the Encarnacion Era in Toronto?

Toronto is the city where he re-invented himself as one of the most feared sluggers in all of baseball. And 2016 very well could be the end of an era for Edwin Encarnacion and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Over the weekend, reports surfaced of Encarancion’s disappointment in a lack of progress in contract talks. Edwin told the Toronto Sun’s Bob Elliott that “they don’t have it in their plans for me to stay here.”

That sounds like a player who’s already reserved to looking for a brand new team for the 2017 season.

As mentioned, contract talks between Edwin Encarnacion and the Toronto Blue Jays haven’t gone swimmingly this offseason. Encarnacion made the first move by announcing a self-imposed Opening Day deadline, and ever since, the front office has done their best to sound committed to Edwin … all the while, being non-committal.

The Blue Jays don’t outright want to shut the door on any potential negotiations with Edwin Encarnacion, but if there’s any truth to the recent reports, it sounds like Encarnacion is as good as gone by the end of the 2016 season.

The latest rumours indicate the Jays have a two-year offer on the table to Edwin Encarnacion. At first glance, that might seem like an insult to one of the most productive power hitters in baseball since 2012. But at this point in his career, Encarnacion is essentially a David Ortiz-type; an all-bat, no glove, designated hitter.

In a game that’s getting increasingly younger and that’s shifted towards an importance on defense and run prevention, Edwin Encarnacion is on the outside looking in. He offers very little in the way of on-field value, and if anything, he actually might be a liability in the field.

Not to diminish everything that Edwin Encarnacion has accomplished over his 11-year career, but there are some major concerns that he may not age very well in the coming years. He’s suffered a litany of injuries over the past calendar year alone, which is concerning for a team like the Jays who may be considering bringing him back long term.

At least in the case of Jose Bautista, he provides some value in the field; whether that’s in the outfield or eventually as a first baseman. Bautista is revered for his conditioning and looks like he will age much more gracefully into his late 30’s than Encarnacion might into his mid-30’s.

Regardless of when his exit occurs, subtracting Edwin Encarnacion’s bat from the Blue Jays lineup will create a huge hole in the middle of the Blue Jays order. Much like Jose Bautista, he’s been a mainstay in this lineup for the past four seasons.

But with an increase in production from players in their prime like Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki and even Jose Bautista, fans may not miss Edwin Encarnacion all that much come 2017.