After reaching the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs, the Cleveland Indians were considered one of the favorites to win the American League pennant in 2017.
On Thursday, the Indians dished out a large sum of money making a statement and strengthening their chances of winning the pennant by signing free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion.
Cleveland and Encarnacion are said to have agreed on a 3-year deal that includes an option for a fourth years. The deal is said to be worth a guaranteed $65 million and includes a buyout of $5 million for the 2020 option year of $25 million.
With slugger Mike Napoli a free agent, Cleveland’s most obvious need, this offseason was power in the 3 or 4 spot in the batting order. The most logical place to add that power was at designated hitter or first base.
Knowing that, Encarnacion for Cleveland was a perfect fit though it looked to be improbable given the financial limitations of the club.
However, at this time the Indians are aware they have an advantage not just over their rivals in the AL Central as the other teams are in a state of transition, but return as the 2017 AL Champions.
Having one of the top rotations in the game, a bullpen of elite status and a lineup that will this season be stronger as Michael Brantley should return healthy, it was the right time to spend big on a top slugger.
In the signing of Encarnacion, the Indians get one of the game’s best power hitters.
The slugger will be 34 on January 7. He hit .263 last season, with 42 homers and 127 runs batted in for Toronto.
During the last five seasons, the first baseman has a batting average of .272 averaging 39 home runs and 119 RBIs each season.
During the span of five years, Encarnacion ranked second in baseball in homers with 193 and in RBIs with 550.
The power from the right side is needed in the Indians order as the team ranked No. 13 last year in the AL in homers from the right side with 91.
