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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 24 december 2016
AP source: Indians, Encarnacion agree to $60M, 3-year deal

TOM WITHERS runs and 127 RBIs last sea- Indians were not willing to
AP Sports Writer son for the Toronto Blue give him a multiyear deal.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Jays, who lost to Cleveland They did not give him a
Cleveland Indians swung in the AL Championship one-year qualifying offer of
for the free-agent fences Series. Over the past five $17.2 million, either.
and connected: Edwin En- seasons, he’s averaged 39 Encarnacion is an up-
carnacion is joining the AL homers and 110 RBIs in 145 grade. His departure from
champions. games. Toronto after eight sea-
Capping a year in which A three-time All-Star who sons is a major move for
they came within one vic- also was pursued by Oak- Cleveland, which over-
tory of winning the World land this week, Encarna- came injuries under man-
Series for the first time since cion tied for the AL lead in ager Terry Francona to get
1948, the Indians agreed RBIs this year and split time to the World Series for the
to terms with the veteran between designated hitter first time since 1997 and
slugger on a $60 million, and first base. doesn’t want to endure
three-year contract Thurs- He could have a similar another long wait.
day night. In this Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 file photo, Toronto Blue Jays’ role with the Indians, shar- Already with one of base-
The deal includes a club Edwin Encarnacion flips his bat after a foul ball against the ing those two spots with ball’s best pitching staffs,
option for 2020 that, if exer- Cleveland Indians during fourth inning in Game 5 of baseball’s Carlos Santana, who can the Indians now have a
American League Championship Series in Toronto.
cised, would make it worth Associated Press become a free agent after much more dangerous
$80 million over four years. next season. lineup. They’ve got young
The agreement is contin- sociated Press. They spoke ed to take place until after Encarnacion, who turns stars in second baseman
gent upon Encarnacion on condition of anonymity the holidays. 34 next month, reportedly Jason Kipnis and shortstop
passing a physical, two because the team had not One of baseball’s most turned down a four-year Francisco Lindor, and if
people familiar with the made an announcement. feared power hitters, En- offer from Toronto worth at left fielder Michael Brant-
negotiations told The As- The physical is not expect- carnacion had 42 home least $80 million before hit- ley can bounce back
ting the open market. The from a shoulder injury that
Indians swooped in and sidelined him for all but 11
worked out a deal to bring games last season, the top
in a player who could help of Cleveland’s order is as
put them back in position good as anyone’s.
to end their championship It’s a bold move by Indians
drought. owner Paul Dolan, who has
Cleveland knocked off been hesitant to test free-
Boston and Toronto in the agent waters in recent
playoffs and jumped out to years after major signings
a 3-1 lead in the Series be- of previous veterans like
fore the Chicago Cubs ral- Nick Swisher and Michael
lied to win in seven games Bourn didn’t pan out. But
and capture their first title the Indians felt the time
in 108 years. was right to act, especially
The close call convinced with a bump in revenue
the Indians the time was from the 2016 postseason
right to spend, and they’ve and adding new minority
shelled out money for one owner John Sherman.
of the biggest bats avail- Cleveland’s lagging at-
able this winter. tendance — the Indians
Encarnacion’s signing ranked 28th in the majors
means the Indians will no — will also get a big bump
longer pursue free agent from Encarnacion’s sign-
first baseman Mike Napoli, ing, which is being greeted
who signed with Cleveland by Cleveland fans as an
last winter and was a ma- early Christmas present.
jor part of the team’s run to Kipnis, too, views Encar-
its first AL Central title since nacion as a gift, posting:
2007. Napoli reached ca- “Thank you Santa! #EE” on
reer bests in homers (34) his Twitter account.
and RBIs (101), and finally Because Encarnacion did
gave Cleveland a much- not accept the Blue Jays’
needed power bat from $17.2 million qualifying of-
the right side. He also pro- fer, the Indians would lose
vided clubhouse leader- a first-round draft pick, No.
ship, serving as a mentor 25 overall, if the deal is
to Cleveland’s young play- completed. Toronto would
ers. However, he struggled gain an extra pick at the
in the postseason and the end of the first round.q