Report: Cleveland Indians Have “Checked In” on Edwin Encarnacion

As hot stove rumors heat up, the latest involves the Cleveland Indians and 1B Edwin Encarnacion.

Sources: Cleveland has checked in on Edwin Encarnacion. Perfect fit as RH power in LH-heavy lineup. Question is: Would they spend the money?

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2016

The way that Passan ends this bit of news is probably what all Indians’ fans think when they hear the idea of Encarnacion in an Indians’ uniform.

“Would they spend the money?”

Cleveland is in the market for a 1B/DH regardless, and if the Indians choose to re-sign Napoli or pursue other free-agents, like Chris Carter, Adam Lind, or Mitch Moreland, those contracts will not be cheap either.

To sign Encarnacion would be a step above those guys.

Last week, Yoennis Cespedes signed a 4-year, $110 million contract.

Encarnacion is not the five-tool type player, like Cespedes, but is every bit as dangerous of a power threat, and anything less than $20 mil. per season would be a surprise for his next contract.

It wouldn’t follow typical protocol, as the Tribe has not been in the habit of spending big money to sign free-agents, but to the credit of the front office, the Indians pulled the trigger on the Andrew Miller deal and picked up his salary.

If Cleveland is going to make another splash leading up to 2017, Encarnacion would certainly have that impact.