When the Toronto Blue Jays signed Kendrys Morales to a three-year, $33-million deal earlier in the off-season, it appeared the Edwin Encarnacion era had come to an end.
General manager Ross Atkins isn’t so sure the door is closed.
Atkins joined Bob McCown and Damien Cox on Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet 590 The Fan to talk about where the team stands with one of its most iconic sluggers.
“We’re confident that we have the resources to add enough to be a very good major league baseball team,” he said Monday evening. “Edwin could still be a part of that.”
When Morales was brought into the fold it appeared the presence of a full-time designated hitter would preclude Encarnacion’s return given that the latter played primary DH over the last few seasons. It seemed unlikely a soon-to-be 34-year-old who had been DH-first in recent years would be signed to be an everyday first baseman through 2019 or longer.
However, Atkins expressed optimism that Encarnacion could answer the call as an everyday fixture in the field, with Morales sprinkled in if necessary.
“Absolutely we feel like Edwin can play first base every day,” he said. “We also feel like Kendrys Morales can play some first base. Is he going to go from zero to 100 and play every day? No.”
One factor rumoured to be slowing doing Encarnacion’s free agency is the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 1. As it stands, teams don’t know what the 2017 luxury tax will be and there is speculation that some of the big market teams haven’t been willing to take on major contracts until they know where they stand. For his part, Atkins was not convinced the new CBA was making much of a difference in negotiations.
“I don’t personally [think it will affect when he signs]. I really don’t,” he said. “There are a lot of people that are suggesting it does, but it’s hard to understand everyone’s motivations and understand ultimately what’s the most important thing to them.”
Unsurprisingly, the Blue Jays GM stated that whether his three-time all-star returns will depend on whether the contract is manageable and fits within the club’s overall plan.
“We feel as though Edwin makes us better,” Atkins said. “If the deal is right and we can find a way to continue and build a team around him.”
