Encarnacion: 'I want to stay on this team'

[Angrioter]

Earlier this winter, before going public Monday about his rigid approach to extension talks with the Blue Jays and scoffing at the notion of a hometown discount, Jose Bautista said "it would be an honor" to finish his career in Toronto.

 

On Friday, the team's second-most popular impending free agent, Edwin Encarnacion, also expressed his desire to spend the rest of his career in a Blue Jays uniform.

 

"I want to stay on this team, I love this team, I love this city but it (doesn't) depend on me," Encarnacion told reporters from Dunedin, Fla., ahead of the club's first full-squad workout. "It depends what they're thinking. I hope we get it done so I can stay here for the rest of my career."

 

Amid reports of Bautista's potentially massive (and non-negotiable) contract demands, which he submitted to Toronto's reconstituted front office roughly two weeks ago, Encarnacion's future with the club has indeed been overlooked of late - and not just by Blue Jays fans. No contract talks have taken place yet, Encarnacion said, though it's possible discussions with management could begin next week, or the week after.

 

Encarnacion reiterated, however, that he won't discuss an extension once the regular season begins.

 

"I want to concentrate on helping this team win games," Encarnacion said. "I don't want to talk anything about contracts throughout the season, because I want to be 100 percent focused on my game."

 

Given how productive he's been in recent years, the Blue Jays would presumably want their most underappreciated star to stay focused on baseball, too. Since 2012, Encarnacion has hit more homers than every player except Chris Davis. He's also one of two qualified hitters to post an OPS above .900 in each of the last four seasons; the other is Mike Trout. Despite providing value almost exclusively with his bat, Encarnacion has been the 22nd-best player in the majors since 2012, nearly a half-decade.

 

Season OPS HR ISO BB/K WAR

2012 .941 42 .277 0.89 4.3

2013 .904 36 .262 1.32 4

2014 .901 34 .279 0.76 3.6

2015 .929 39 .280 0.79 4.5

Like Bautista, Encarnacion appears destined to land a lucrative, long-term deal, but unlike his longtime teammate, he doesn't have a specific number in mind. Well, actually, he does have one number in mind.

 

"I want to hit 40 homers," he said.

[Brenner]

Thank you Edwin.

[intentional wok]

EE is just doing the bog standard media stuff but it looks "refreshing" compared to Bautista's statements. Not long ago his agent was allegedly saying the contract extension deadline was the end of ST. Probably good PR for EE whether or not he plans to stay in Toronto, positioning himself as the less baggage-laden FA slugger (not that he ever struck me as anything but humble anyway).

[Spanky99]

By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com | @gregorMLB | 32 minutes ago + 5 COMMENTS

 

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Edwin Encarnacion is doing his best to remain optimistic that this will not be his final season with the Blue Jays and that instead he will be able to sign a long-term contract extension to remain with the organization.

 

Encarnacion spoke to the media on Friday morning for the first time this spring as the Blue Jays went through Day 1 of full-squad workouts. Toronto has yet to engage in serious contract talks with his agent, but Encarnacion is hopeful those discussions will take place "this week or next."

 

The veteran slugger made headlines during the offseason when his agent, Paul Kinzer, said Encarnacion would not negotiate a new deal after the start of the regular season. The reason is that the last time Encarnacion engaged in contract talks during the year he felt it became a major distraction and he doesn't want history to repeat itself.

"It happened last time, we're talking about that, so I don't want any negotiations during the season," said Encarnacion, who signed a three-year deal with a team option midway through 2012. "I want to concentrate to help this team to win games, I don't want to talk anything about contracts because I want to be 100 percent focused on my game."

Encarnacion, who didn't rule out re-signing with the club next offseason if a deal cannot be reached soon, turned out to be a major bargain on the contract that paid him $27 million from 2013-15 with another $10 million due this year. He hit at least 34 home runs during each of those seasons and established himself as one of the most reliable power hitters in the game.

 

A lot of that production came while Encarnacion dealt with a variety of injuries. He always seems to be battling some kind of issue, but the Dominican native typically finds a way to remain on the field. Last year, it was a nagging finger injury and a sports hernia that caused some problems, but he still managed to appear in 146 games.

Toronto has a number of issues that need to be taken care of, with the pending free agency of Encarnacion and Jose Bautista at the top of that list. Bautista became the early storyline of Spring Training when the six-time All-Star stated that he told the Blue Jays exactly what it would take to sign him and there was no room for negotiation.

Encarnacion was asked if he was taking a similar approach and would he provide the club with a number. A big smile appeared on his face as he said, "A number? Yeah, 40 homers." It was a stark contrast to the way his close friend handled things earlier in the week, but whether a new deal can be reached still remains uncertain.

"I want to stay on this team," said Encarnacion, who hit .277 with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs last year. "I love this team and I love the city, but it doesn't depend on me. It depends on what they think. I hope we get it done so I can stay here the rest of my career."

 

E "f***IN" REX!!!

[Jonn]

Edwin loves us and we love him. Would love to resign him. 3 years 60M.

[G-Snarls]

Edwin is so loveable

[Stangstag]

Thanks for not being an ass Edwin.

 

Shapiro probably waits until the offseason, but I think he'll try and sign Edwin and let Jose walk

[Stangstag]

Edwin loves us and we love him. Would love to resign him. 3 years 60M.

 

It's gonna take more

[Sammy225]

Well in my eyes you can only sign one of them anyways as JB is on his way to being a DH considering he has already lost a step in the OF. They are just making it easy for us lol

[G-Snarls]

Sign Austin Jackson for 2 years 18M

Trade Saunders for whatever you can get

Sign Edwin for 3 years 65M

Let Bautista walk for a comp pick

[Jonn]

It's gonna take more

 

Hes a DH though. His options are quite limited. NL DH is atleast 2 years away if they decide they want to do it. I would like to think they get this done rather calmly. Edwin has always wanted to be here.

[Jonn]

Well in my eyes you can only sign one of them anyways as JB is on his way to being a DH considering he has already lost a step in the OF. They are just making it easy for us lol

 

I would like to think Bautista can play a more than serviceable first base. I'm fine playing out the season with Bautista though. You gotta get Edwin done now.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Sign Austin Jackson for 2 years 18M

Trade Saunders for whatever you can get

Sign Edwin for 3 years 65M

Let Bautista walk for a comp pick

 

If you're EE's agent, do you recommend signing for 3/65M? I don't think so. I think a 5-year deal, and I am not sure the AAV, ~ $22M? 5/90? Maybe add an opt-out clause after year 3.

 

You're suggesting we sign Jackson now, as a FA, I think. I like that idea, honestly. Steamer gives him a 1 WAR. I think 2-2.3 is reasonable. He might make a good lead off man. 25 SB's isn't a crazy estimate.

[Sammy225]

I would like to think Bautista can play a more than serviceable first base. I'm fine playing out the season with Bautista though. You gotta get Edwin done now.

 

He has only played a handful of games there so it is hard to say for sure what he would look like at first. The last thing you want to end up with is two DH type players that that play a below average first base but who knows. Reminds me of:

 

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I'm honestly done with JB at this point. If they can even trade him now for lots (player(s) that can help now, player(s) who can help soon), I do it. I know, I know, 10-5. Doesn't mean it's impossible.

[Spanky99]

I'm honestly done with JB at this point. If they can even trade him now for lots (player(s) that can help now, player(s) who can help soon), I do it. I know, I know, 10-5. Doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

K...........

[Jonzo]

I'm honestly done with JB at this point. If they can even trade him now for lots (player(s) that can help now, player(s) who can help soon), I do it. I know, I know, 10-5. Doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

Lol.

[Jonn]

I'm honestly done with JB at this point. If they can even trade him now for lots (player(s) that can help now, player(s) who can help soon), I do it. I know, I know, 10-5. Doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

Rogers plan is working.

[Effit]

Love that guy.

[AncientDiety]

I'm honestly done with JB at this point. If they can even trade him now for lots (player(s) that can help now, player(s) who can help soon), I do it. I know, I know, 10-5. Doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

Herp Derp.

[G-Snarls]

If you're EE's agent, do you recommend signing for 3/65M? I don't think so. I think a 5-year deal, and I am not sure the AAV, ~ $22M? 5/90? Maybe add an opt-out clause after year 3.

 

You're suggesting we sign Jackson now, as a FA, I think. I like that idea, honestly. Steamer gives him a 1 WAR. I think 2-2.3 is reasonable. He might make a good lead off man. 25 SB's isn't a crazy estimate.

 

Yeah I had predicted more for Edwin the thread where we were predicting. I probably said something like 5/90 at that point. A 3-4 year deal would sure be nice though.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Yeah I had predicted more for Edwin the thread where we were predicting. I probably said something like 5/90 at that point. A 3-4 year deal would sure be nice though.

 

Oh, I get it.

 

I actually think if forced, he'd be an okay player to lay down a 5-year, honestly.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Herp Derp.

 

Yes, my good man.

 

Herp Derp.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Rogers plan is working.

 

Did the Rogers PR machine pull the strings on JB's mouth like a marionette? I am totally focused on what he said. Not the BS numbers provided by half-assed sports reporters.

[jays_fever]

He has only played a handful of games there so it is hard to say for sure what he would look like at first. The last thing you want to end up with is two DH type players that that play a below average first base but who knows. Reminds me of:

 

 

136 games played that year, almost 600ABS and throughout half of the movie Brad Pitt was yelling for him to get PT

[Dr. Dinger]

136 games played that year, almost 600ABS and throughout half of the movie Brad Pitt was yelling for him to get PT

 

That movie was so stupid. The narrative was that they won on the backs of a bunch of scrappy, undervalued OBP guys. The truth was they had an MVP shortstop, arguably the best 3B in baseball, and 3 aces who didn't even get MENTIONED.

[burlingtonbandit]

That movie was so stupid. The narrative was that they won on the backs of a bunch of scrappy, undervalued OBP guys. The truth was they had an MVP shortstop, arguably the best 3B in baseball, and 3 aces who didn't even get MENTIONED.

 

Hollywood always changes the narrative of true story based movies. Nothing new.

[KingKat]

Hollywood always changes the narrative of true story based movies. Nothing new.

 

Yeah but even before Hollywood got involved, Lewis had already shifted the spotlight away from many of the good players and towards the marginal ones in his book.

[Dr. Dinger]

Yeah but even before Hollywood got involved, Lewis had already shifted the spotlight away from many of the good players and towards the marginal ones in his book.

 

That would be like making a movie about the Jays 2015 ALCS run and only mentioning the contributions of Pillar and Estrada. I also don't understand glorifying a team that didn't even win a WS, but whatever.

[KingKat]

That would be like making a movie about the Jays 2015 ALCS run and only mentioning the contributions of Pillar and Estrada. I also don't understand glorifying a team that didn't even win a WS, but whatever.

 

Well Lewis couldn't exactly will them to win the World Series when he started covering them. That's no doubt an outcome he would have rooted for but as it turns out, it really didn't seem to affect the popularity of his eventual book.