The Seattle Mariners just acquired Edwin Encarnacion, but don’t expect him to be there for long. Where could they deal him to?
If the Seattle Mariners and Jerry Dipoto didn’t make a trade during the Winter Meetings, did they even happen? They may have waited until after the Rule V draft and as everyone was leaving to do it, but they completed a three team deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners and landed Edwin Encarnacion, a draft pick and cash, while shipping Carlos Santana back to Cleveland. Dipoto even did the deal from a hospital bed in Las Vegas and thankfully, he’s okay.
With the way the Seattle Mariners are currently constituted, you have to think Encarnacion isn’t long to be in Seattle. Encarnacion is set to make $20 million in 2019 and has a team option at $20 million in 2020 with a $5 million buyout.
Encarnacion is a consistent, right-handed power bat. Since 2012, he’s hit at least 30 homers per season and driven in over 100 runs except for one season, where he drove in 98.
There are some red flags though. His OBP and slugging were his lowest since 2011 and he does turn 36 this coming January. He’s also probably better suited for a strict DH role, having only played 23 games at first over the past two years.
However, any team that acquires him can cut bait after next season by paying him $5 million, so it wouldn’t be a heavy investment.
So where could Dipoto flip his new slugger as the Seattle Mariners remodel continues? Let’s take a look at some landing spots.