Edwin Encarnacion reportedly agrees with Indians on $65 million deal

Napoli will likely be headed back to the Rangers as a free-agent.

Cleveland is returning most of the key pieces from its 2016 pennant-winning roster. That made Encarnacion the flawless fit for Cleveland, though it still seemed like an improbable pairing given the club’s financial limitations. All teams have fields that they can improve in though, and the Indians did. To add on, Cleveland must have really wanted Encarnacion-big spending is not something the Indians are known for.

Over the past five seasons, Encarnacion has hit.272/.367/.544 with a 146 OPS+ while averaging 39 home runs, 110 RBI, 145 games played and fewer than 100 strikeouts per season. That means that Encarnacion’s first year is practically paid for already and the Indians will continue to only generate more revenue going forward especially if they have the same level of success as last season.

Encarnacion, of the Dominican Republic, was an all-star for the third time in four years in 2016.

Cleveland’s lagging attendance – the Indians ranked 28th in the majors – will also get a big bump from Encarnacion’s signing, which is being greeted by Cleveland fans as an early Christmas present. Last season the club ran a payroll of $83.7 million, good for 26th in baseball.

Two familiar faces could rejoin the Texas Rangers for 2017, one a perennial victor and crowd favorite and another who was one of the game’s best players earlier this decade before leaving for a division foe. It looks like a good business move.

Evan Grant says he would go two years, $25 million for Napoli, but that the guaranteed money might need to get up to $27 million to sign him.

For what it’s worth, two teams no longer in Edwin Encarnacion sweepstakes believe the Cleveland Indians are the team to beat. But that may come at a certain price. In fact, it was expected after the Blue Jays clearly indicated they were moving in a different direction when they signed Kendrys Morales to a three-year, $33-million contract on November 11, three days into the beginning of the free agency free-for-all. The Indians do have an extra Draft pick in Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall) in June. The Tribe can platoon Encarnacion at first base with Carlos Santana, who hit 34 homers this past season as the primary DH.

In seven full seasons with the Blue Jays, Encarnacion was incredibly consistent, belting out 231 home runs.

The designated hitter/first baseman had a.263/.357/.529 slash line, 42 home runs and 127 RBIs in 160 games last season.