RealGM

Not sure if this has been out there or not -- apologies if it has:

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi
#BlueJays are not currently discussing an extension with Edwin Encarnacion, his agent told me. He is a free agent after this season.

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi
So, if #BlueJays slip in the standings, don’t be surprised if Edwin Encarnacion is the biggest hitter available at the trade deadline.

I wouldn't be discussing one with him either. Let him play out the year, and see what happens

Ya Morosi knows nothing...he always writes things like this.

If someone wanted to buy high on EE, I would be all over it.

MGD24 wrote:Ya Morosi knows nothing...he always writes things like this.

I wasn't really sure how much credibility he had. Deleted the more speculative part of the thread title, then.

The tweet did say he heard this directly from EE's agent

Hard to believe he didn't hit his first homerun last year until the end up May, and he already has 16.

Edwin's current pace:

628 ABS / 53 hr/136 rbi / .274 / .335 / .579 / .914

Whether Encarnacion is the answer is up for debate, but if you lose him you now have significant holes at 1B and DH, two premium offensive positions.

I wouldn't wait much longer if we plan on retaining him.

His value has got to be at an all-time high. It's going to be interesting to see what the jays do with him. would we re-up him for say, 10 million a season to DH? I'm not to convinced of that. Is he a viable option at 1st base? And if he is, maybe we should be exploring trade talks with him. E5 would net a huge return no question about it. Either way, it's going to be interesting to see what the jays do. I for one, would love him back, but if that's the case, I hope we do it now as oppose to wait for the season and 40+ homers to play out...

Wo1verine wrote:I wouldn't be discussing one with him either. Let him play out the year, and see what happens

This.

Hamyltowne wrote:

Wo1verine wrote:I wouldn't be discussing one with him either. Let him play out the year, and see what happens

This.

Once we wait that long hes gone. No point negotiating with a player a month before FA. He's just going to go and start the bidding war.

We can still get a pretty team friendly deal. (under 8 M annually?)

Actually, here are the two best options for the Jays:

1) Trade EE in July. Sell high.

2) Try to get him to agree to a deal not unlike that of Yunel Escobar. Two years at a bargain with two more as team options. If they go this route, they should get it on it very soon.

It's important to remember that the season is not over and he has not yet had a complete season where he has put it all together. Right now he is on pace to do so but the season is far from over.

flatjacket1 wrote:Once we wait that long hes gone. No point negotiating with a player a month before FA...We can still get a pretty team friendly deal. (under 8 M annually?)

Under $8m annually would be terrific, especially if we could make it two or three years with two team options.

I don't think he'll age well.

Hamyltowne wrote:

flatjacket1 wrote:Once we wait that long hes gone. No point negotiating with a player a month before FA...We can still get a pretty team friendly deal. (under 8 M annually?)

Under $8m annually would be terrific, especially if we could make it two or three years with two team options.

I don't think he'll age well.

I think he'll age fine. No reason to think otherwise, Fielder had proof he didn't age well and he got a big deal.

No way the Jays can go over 8M for him, a 2 year 14-16M contract with 1-2 option years is the way to go with EE if he doesn't sign for that then he should be moved.

flatjacket1 wrote:

Hamyltowne wrote:I don't think he'll age well.

I think he'll age fine. No reason to think otherwise, Fielder had proof he didn't age well and he got a big deal.

We part company.

I say 2, maybe 3 years with two team options. Anything longer than that is asking for trouble for when he starts struggling badly in later seasons.

Again, I don't think he'll age well enough to warrant a contract longer than that. Not from us, anyway.

We both agree that any sort of team-friendly deal has got to get done soon. Like, now. If not by end of July, I'd seriously consider moving him.

chances are E5 is a DH. You aren't handing out a 3+ year contract for a DH are u?

spykelee wrote:chances are E5 is a DH. You aren't handing out a 3+ year contract for a DH are u?

I'd prefer 2, but 3 should be all right so long as it's very a team-friendly deal. It all depends on the amount of money.

I don't want to provoke half the board, here, but I would actually much rather they trade him in July, especially if his numbers continue because the return might be big.

But, then, I'm a sucker (pause) for trades.

Hamyltowne wrote:

spykelee wrote:chances are E5 is a DH. You aren't handing out a 3+ year contract for a DH are u?

I'd prefer 2, but 3 should be all right so long as it's very a team-friendly deal. It all depends on the amount of money.

I don't want to provoke half the board, here, but I would actually much rather they trade him in July, especially if his numbers continue because the return might be big.

But, then, I'm a sucker (pause) for trades.

I think at this point, that I agree with you. Have to see where things are shaking out by July though. If were in contention and may potentially be buyers in an attempt to make a run, no way we look to deal him, but anything short of that, I think we really need to look to trade him. He'd command a terrific return, and again, nothing saying we couldn't re-sign him in the off-season... there's certainly precedence there.