Seattle Mariners: Five trade fits for Edwin Encarnacion

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.

Tampa Bay Rays

While this deal was being reported, there were some reports that the Tampa Bay Rays were going to acquire Encarnacion and not the Seattle Mariners. Even though they didn’t here, Encarnacion as a member of the Rays would make some sense.

The Tampa Bay Rays could use a veteran stick with some thunder in the middle of that lineup. Encarnacion could certainly fit that bill. Putting him in a lineup with so many young players like Austin Meadows, Willy Adames and Encarnacion’s former teammate, Yandy Diaz, he can provide some veteran leadership for them.

For Tampa, the fact they can buy him out after next year may be appealing to them as well, since it’s a shorter commitment for a player on a team that doesn’t spend a lot of money. They’ve looked at other bats like Nelson Cruz this off-season in the free agent market, but Cruz may want multiple years, unlike the one the Rays can keep Encarnacion for.

For the Seattle Mariners, the Tampa Bay Rays represent a club that they’ve made two deals with, just this off-season. It’s clearly a club they know and feel comfortable making deals with and there is something to that.

Colorado Rockies

If there is ever a season for the Colorado Rockies to go for it, it’s this one. Nolan Arenado is a free agent after the season. They have a veteran bullpen and a young core that’s coming into their own and have made postseason appearances in the past two seasons.

This is a club that could use some offense. You wouldn’t think that for a team that plays in Colorado but they really could. A middle of the order with Arenado, Encarnacion and Trevor Story playing 81 games in Coors Field with Charlie Blackmon and a hopefully healthy David Dahl would look pretty good.

This move could also let them move Ian Desmond into more of a utility role, or even into a role in the outfield for them next season with guys like Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra currently in free agency.

Maybe the Rockies can have the Seattle Mariners take Bryan Shaw as a part of the deal to make it more palatable for the club and include a prospect to do it. The Rockies do have a good farm system.  If Shaw pitches well, he could be a trade chip when teams are looking for bullpen help down the stretch.

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros were a team that was involved in the Paul Goldschmidt trade sweepstakes, but fell short when he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals. They should look to the Seattle Mariners and speak with them about Encarnacion to come in and play first base.

Yulieski Gurriel has been at first for them over the past couple of seasons as well as Tyler White, but with Marwin Gonzalez likely heading elsewhere in free agency, Gurriel may move into that role of super utility player which leaves a vacancy at first base.

For the Astros, this would be a short term fix at the position, but for a team that has already lost Charlie Morton in free agency, has Dallas Keuchel still unsigned and Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole who will be free agents after next season, this is a win now ball club.

A lineup with Encarnacion, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Carlos Correa would be not only a fun watch, but do a ton of damage.

The Astros still have some prospects that could entice the Seattle Mariners to make such a deal beneficial to the them. Maybe J.B. Bukauskas could be the piece that gets it done? Combining him with Justin Dunn and Justus Sheffield would give the club three very interesting pitching prospects.

Minnesota Twins

If the Minnesota Twins want to get back to playoff contention, they are going to need more contributions up and down the roster. They’ve already added C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop and Ronald Torreyes thus far, but they could use some more thunder on offense.

If Miguel Sano can be the player he was two years ago, and contribute at third, while Byron Buxton comes back to play center, they have an intriguing offense. Why not add Encarnacion back into the DH spot in a trade with the Seattle Mariners?

The Twins are another team that is looking at Nelson Cruz, so if they lose out on him, they could pivot to Encarnacion.

Outside the Cleveland Indians, the rest of the AL Central is undergoing some sort of rebuild. If the Twins can mash through those clubs and keep their head above water against the rest of the league, they can be right in the thick of the playoff race next season.

Adding Encarnacion with their other pieces, plus Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler, that’s a club that can put up some runs. The length of the commitment for Encarnacion would also be attractive for the Twins.