Time For The Rays To Buy What Cleveland Is Selling

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ST PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 12: Edwin Encarnacion #10 of the Cleveland Indians looks on in the first inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 12, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Edwin Encarnancion, 1B/DH, RHH, 35

The former Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays slugger, Edwin Encarnacion is the least likely Cleveland Indian to end up in Tampa Bay this offseason, but nonetheless, there is always a chance.

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Encarnacion had a good year at the plate, hitting .246 and sending 32 balls over the ball while driving in 107 runs for the Tribe. His WRC+ of 115 shows that he was an above average hitter, just

as we would expect him to be. His bat isn’t what would concern the Rays, the 40 million he is wowed through 2019 is.

The only way that the former Rays killer ends up a Ray, is if the Indians covered at least 5 million in 2019 and in 2020 if the Rays exercise the club option worth 20 million. If the they don’t exercise the club option, I am sure the Rays would look for some assistance regarding the 5 million dollar buyout that would be owed to Encarnacion.

The aging slugger is trending the wrong way offensively and that is why I do not see the Rays trading prospects for overpaid first baseman/DH. In Encarnacion’s case, the bad (monetary commitments) outweigh the good (power and production).