Toronto Blue Jays Give Edwin Encarnacion Three-Year, $27 Million Extension
Toronto, ON – Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion will be a Blue Jay for at least three more years after the ballclub agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract with an option for the 2016 season.
The 29-year-old Dominican Republic player earned his extension this season with a batting average of .295 alongside 24 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Edwin is tied for fourth in home runs while his slugging percentage of .595 is fifth in the MLB. Encarnacion is also seventh in RBIs.
Over eight seasons Edwin Encarnacion has averaged a .267 batting average while racking up 140 home runs and 450 RBIs while playing for the Cincinnati Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Should his season continue on its current path Encarnacion will set person career records in most offensive categories.
With the Blue Jays now bringing Brett Lawrie into the mix that means Edwin will not have to play third base on a regular basis, a sore spot in his game because of his lacking defensive skills.
The move is a big show of confidence on Toronto’s part after a rocky relationship with Edwin, they originally acquired Encarnacion in 2009 during a Scott Rolen trade with the Reds, but Edwin was eventually waived by the Blue Jays at the end of the 2010 season and after being picked up by the Oakland A’s he was granted free agency and signed once again with Toronto.
Do you think the Blue Jays made the right decision in handing Edwin Encarnacion a three-year deal worth $27 million give his top-notch performances in 2012?
