I don't see 5 years as remotely possible. 2017 will be his age 34 season. Literally at any point the aging curve can catch him. The only hope signing him is that his value in the first few years overshadows whats likely dead weight in the last few years.
Adding another big bat makes the most sense given the market. Extend the lineup fully and try and dangle everyone not named Bregman in a Sale or Archer trade.
I believe the success of Beltre and Big Papi will really help EE get that 5th guaranteed year. The free agency market is always inflated, so I think whoever the "winning" team is, guaranteeing that 5th year will be the differentiator. That's just a guess though, so you may be absolutely right.
But we are saying it based on what we now know. When you try to make sense of why players haven't made it yet, or haven't lived up to their "highly touted prospect" track record, you look for signs of regression. His poor start to 2016 at AAA wasn't nit-picking. It was a poor start. His weight gain at both the minor league and major league level doesn't seem to be a positive in any of this. He did have a solid second stint at AAA after his demotion, which doesn't really change any outlook or chances of future MLB success. And at this point, it won't really matter what he does at AAA. He needs to show up in shape and give himself the best chance to succeed at the MLB level.
Hill is the type of player you hate see play on the other team, but also the type of player you'd hate seeing on your 60-Day DL pulling down nearly a 3/4 of a million dollars that could have been spent elsewhere for each missed start. Personally, I think he's going to get a very short contract that he'll be able to make worth it by only playing half the time.
Dear Jeff, Do whatever you have to in order to sign Encarnacion. Please and thank you. With the Love of a Thousand Baby Mike Hamptons, Fyreball
I think it's possible but would much rather have him at 4 years. He will definitely get more than Nelson Cruz who got 4 years for 57 million dollars. I'd be fine with 4 for 75 to 80.
Given his track record over the past five years, and the market's history, I doubt EE costs less than 100MM...especially if we lure him to HOU. 75MM-80MM seems a bit of a pipe dream, but we'll see. That said, I still think EE will return to TOR or go to BOS. I think we'll settle for 2 years of Beltran, which I kind of prefer to EE, and the cost it will take to lure him to HOU. Sidenote: *If* we land EE or Beltran, am I crazy for consindering moving Springer out of the leadoff spot? Maybe lead off with Altuve or Bregman, and slot Springer 5th, behind EE? Or Bregman-Beltran-Altuve-Correa-Springer...
I feel like I read somewhere that Toronto offered around 80 mil, and he hasnt taken it because I think he knows he will get more. Also Tor signed Morales which is basically a cheaper version of the same so I doubt he wants to stay or they want to pay. My guess is we get whoever Boston doesnt sign to replace big papi between EE and Beltran. I'm more down for Belt and an outfielder (McCutch or Fowler). Then sell the farm for Sale and we are legitimately untouchable.
I just don't see the White Sox trading Sale at this juncture. Wondering if they'd part with Jose Quintana?
They did reportedly offer 4/80. If not offering the 5th year, probably gonna have to go 4/90 or more likely 4/100(+). That'd make him highest paid DH, 2nd highest paid 1B.(AAV) Miggy? ________________________________ http://www.tsn.ca/encarnacion-s-agent-says-jays-showing-edwin-the-most-love-1.619496 Edwin Encarnacion’s agent says the Toronto Blue Jays free-agent first baseman will probably sign a contract later this week or early next week, and that the Blue Jays are “showing Edwin the most love.” Paul Kinzer told TSN in an interview Tuesday that three teams have told him that they’re waiting for Major League Baseball to sign a new collective labour agreement before making Encarnacion a contract offer. Baseball's CBA expires on Thursday. It's unclear whether MLB would lock out players if the deal expires before a new deal is reached. So far, Kinzer said two teams have made “serious” offers to Encarnacion. He declined to identify those teams. Kinzer noted the $27.5-million-per-year deal reached Tuesday between the New York Mets and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, calling it a good comparable. “[Cespedes] is a great player,” Kinzer said. “Edwin is the biggest offensive force on the market, so it doesn’t look like we were out of line with our expectations.” Kinzer previously told TSN that he hoped to secure a five-year contract with Encarnacion worth at least $125 million. Kinzer said Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has continued to talk with Edwin after the team offered him a contract with about $80 million over four years early in the off-season. “The Jays are showing Edwin the most love,” Kinzer said. “We’re talking. They want him back. Ross has been talking to Edwin. They have a great relationship.” Kinzer said he hasn’t discussed money with the Jays since their initial contract offer. “We won’t put any restrictions on any offer like years or anything,” Kinzer said. “He’s going to decide where he’s comfortable. One of the things we have to look at is the big difference in the tax base between some of the teams that are interested. Plus, there’s a comfort level we need to consider.” Encarnacion, 33, batted. 263 with 42 home runs and 127 runs batted in for Toronto in 2016. He last signed a contract in July 2012 when he agreed to a three-year, $27-million contract with the Blue Jays that included a $10-million club option for the 2016 season.
Encarnacion is going to be overpaid, but that's more than ok since Houston shouldn't be at the point where the contract would significantly limit them during their window. $70M/4 is probably what he'll be worth, but he's probably going to end up getting at least $90M/4 and possibly even $110M/4. I will be shocked if he gets a 5th year. Houston getting EE (or even really Fowler, Napoli, or Beltran) means fielding the deepest lineup in baseball: CF Springer 3B Bregman 2B Altuve 1B Encarnacion (or Beltran, Napoli, or Fowler) SS Correa RF Reddick LF Gurriel C McCann DH Gattis With Aoki, Marwin, and Marisnick on the bench. When your #9 hitter is coming off of a 30 HR season, you've got a sick lineup.
I'll believe it when I see it. The only one that makes any sense to think about moving is Springer and even then I wouldn't agree with the decision. I do think bringing in another bat unlocks the entire system though. Reed, Martes, Tucker, Paulino is the core of a haul that beats any other potential offers other than Boston and New York.
If the Astros sign Rich Hill something has got to give Keuchel McCullers Hill McHugh Musgrove Morton Devenski Feliz Martes Paulino Whitley Fiers There's a big deal or two in that group