New York Yankees add more power in Edwin Encarnacion

The Seattle Mariners finally traded Edwin Encarnacion, sending him to the New York Yankees for a minor league pitcher.

Since they acquired Edwin Encarnacion from the Cleveland Indians, it was expected that the Seattle Mariners would look to part ways with the slugging first baseman/designated hitter. Yet, as the offseason ended and the regular season moved into June, Encarnacion was still on the Mariners roster.

That is no longer the case. On Saturday, the New York Yankees landed Encarnacion for minor league pitcher Juan Then.

Encarnacion gives the Yankees already impressive lineup, when healthy, a great deal more power. The AL home run leader, he had posted a .241/.356/.531 batting line with the Mariners, belting 21 homers and drawing 41 walks. He also hit his 400th career homer while in Seattle, ensuring that his brief time in the Pacific Northwest will not be forgotten in the highlight reels.

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In exchange, the Mariners bring back Then. He had originally been traded to New York for Nick Rumbelow, back in November 2017. The 19 year old righty had yet to pitch this season, but has a lifetime 2.67 ERA and a 1.024 WHiP, striking out 98 batters with 26 walks in 111.1 professional innings.

The addition of Encarnacion gives the Yankees an intriguing mix at first and DH with Luke Voit. As both players are right handed hitters, they will not be a platoon; but rather, will rotate between the field and the DH spot. Such a move should keep both players relatively fresh, and keep their hot bats going through the season.

Encarnacion also adds to an already impressive Yankees lineup. He will likely slot into the middle of the order, somewhere with Voit, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and, when healthy, Giancarlo Stanton. While Then may be an intriguing pitching prospect, and a part of the Mariners future rotation, the draw of adding another powerful bat to the Yankees lineup could not be ignored.

The New York Yankees have acquired Edwin Encarnacion from the Seattle Mariners, making their already formidable lineup all the more powerful