Edwin Encarnacion’s Asking Price is Escalating Even Further

In sports, there’s a phenomenon called the “contract year”. With the bright lights of free agency on the horizon, players often put forth some of their best work, and they parlay those results into a huge payday.

There’s no doubt about it; Edwin Encarnacion is having a “contract year” with the Blue Jays in 2016.

After another incredible game by Edwin Encarnacion in which he hit one of the longest home runs of the 2016 season, Encarnacion’s asking price is escalating further and further. At this rate, Edwin is in pace for a nine-figure payday.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are undeniably the Toronto Blue Jays’ biggest pending free agents. And while it may have initially seemed like Bautista was the priority player to sign, that desire has suddenly shifted onto retaining Edwin Encarnacion.

While Bautista has been on the shelf the past five years, Encarnacion has been mashing and putting up ungodly numbers in Joey Bat’s absence. During Bautista’s DL stint, Encarnacion has clubbed eight home runs, driven in 25 RBI’s and batted .298/.407/.617. Edwin has turned up his game, and in turn, the Blue Jays have thrived.

This just means that Edwin Encarnacion can hit the free agent market and ask for all that much more. Even though he’s essentially a full-time designated hitter who plays the odd game at first base, Encarnacion is a tremendous offensive weapon; in which prospective teams are surely willing to pay top dollar for.

One of those teams is reported to be the Boston Red Sox. David Ortiz openly pined to have Edwin Encarnacion replace him as the designated hitter in Boston, and reports from earlier this season linked Encarnacion’s camp to the Red Sox. Boston will be one of the favourites to land Encarnacion this offseason, unless the Blue Jays are willing to leap up and offer him a crazy amount of money or term.

However, Edwin Encarnacion and his agent Paul Kinzer have expressed their desire to not negotiate in-season. Encarnacion prefers to play out the 2016 season without the distraction of contract negotiations, and judging by the way he’s performed this year … it’s working.

He’s on pace to hit close to 40 home runs this year, and a little past the half-way point of the season, Encarnacion has already amassed 86 RBI’s. And just when you think Edwin couldn’t get any hotter at the plate … he does.

It’s tremendous news for the Toronto Blue Jays this year, but Edwin Encarnacion’s stellar performance is invariably driving up his asking price significantly. If the Blue Jays thought they could get him to re-sign on a reasonable two or three-year contract extension, they’re now sorely mistaken. And if they’re battling the Red Sox, the Blue Jays will likely be priced out as the Red Sox have displayed money is never an issue when it comes to paying free agents.

If given the choice between re-signing Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion, I think most would likely go with Edwin Encarnacion. Recency bias aside, Encarnacion is three years younger than Bautista. In an ever-increasing game driven by younger players, Edwin would be the safer bet between the two sluggers.

If I had to venture a guess at what Edwin Encarnacion’s asking price might be right now – and it’s only a guess – one can only assume that discussions would begin with a four-year term, at a floor salary of at least $20 million per season. That’s only a conservative estimation; Edwin’s asking price could very easily top $100 million dollars, as he’ll be one of the most coveted hitters on the free agent market.

And if that’s the case, it will likely be too big of a contract for the Blue Jays to delve out. They already have two $20 million players on the roster in Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin, and Josh Donaldson is making $17 million dollars next year. Tack on $20 million dollars for Edwin Encarnacion, and close to $80 million dollars of the 2017 payroll would be tied up in four players.

There’s no doubt Edwin Encarnacion is worthy the hefty price tag he’ll command this offseason (in the short term, at least). And if the Blue Jays don’t step up and offer him that kind of dough, somebody else surely will.

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