DID JAYS DROP BALL?
Edwin’s gone and fans aren’t happy
For Toronto Blue Jays fans, ’tis the season to be jolly well pissed off. The Cleveland Indians got the parrot and Jays fans got what the parrot leaves behind.
You can’t blame Edwin Encarnacion for going to Cleveland (the slugger reportedly agreed to a three-year, US$65-million deal, plus an option year, on Thursday). Even though the Jays offered US$80 million over four years, there is a sense that the club’s interest was lukewarm. The thought was that signing a soon-to-be-34-year-old — who is destined to become a full-time DH — to such a big, lengthy contract wasn’t in their best interest.
Why else would they sign Kendrys Morales to a three-year, US$33-million contract almost immediately after Encarnacion’s agent told them that they wanted to explore the free-agent market?
Players live for the chance to see what free agency can bring. The Jays knew that — and they didn’t wait.
After striking a two-year deal with Steve Pearce about a month later, the Jays pretty well shut the door on any chance of Encarnacion returning.
Hearken back to spring training last year. Encarnacion told Postmedia’s Bob Elliott he didn’t think the Jays had it in their plans “for me to stay here,” adding that he was “disappointed” an extension hadn’t been reached.
That seems about right. Elliott was told at spring training the Jays offered Encarnacion a one-year deal at the 2015 winter meetings and a two-year deal at spring training. It seemed like there was never any trust established between the sides, and that makes it tough to get a deal done.
Given his comments in Dunedin last spring, the Jays’ offers likely left a sour taste in his mouth, which is understandable when it seems they didn’t really want Encarnacion — which they communicated with the one- and two-year offers and by declaring deadlines before he hit free agency.
It seems like a weird way to negotiate if you really want a player. There was talk — still unconfirmed — that Encarnacion’s camp went back to the Jays this week after hearing what Cleveland would give him and offered to take less money and term, but they were turned down.
With Encarnacion taking his parrot show to Cleveland, it’s likely the Jays won’t fly as high in 2017. Not only are they losing a man who averaged 39 home runs over the past six years, the division has become that much tougher.
The Boston Red Sox definitely took a step forward with the acquisition of Chris Sale and Tyler Thornburg and, even though David Ortiz’s retirement is a huge loss, the Bosox already had one of the best offences in the league. Boston is the most improved AL team on paper this off-season.
The New York Yankees, meanwhile, almost made the playoffs last year during a rebuild (with a group of extremely talented young players) and without relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. They blew a ton of saves during the final two months in the season. Getting Chapman back will be a huge help.
Of course, if the Jays make the playoffs in 2017 and advance to the ALCS or World Series, all will be forgiven. But if they take a step backward, the fans will turn on general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro. Many already have.
It seems likely the Jays will take a step back in 2017, even if there are still plenty of deals to be made. Atkins still has to shore up the corner-outfield spots and the bullpen and secure a quality backup catcher for Russell Martin.
Encarnacion had become a huge fan favourite at the Rogers Centre with his quiet professionalism and ability to get a big hit when it counts. Now he’ll have a great opportunity to win a World Series with Cleveland, a town many Toronto fans took glee in deriding during the NBA Eastern Conference final last year. (Remember all those snarky tweets about how much of a dump Cleveland is?)
Hey, and what about that ridiculous theory that electing Donald Trump to the presidency would mean professional athletes would flock to play in Canada? Are they lined up at the border?
According to reports, the Jays’ payroll will go up 14 per cent from last year to US$165 million. Interesting, but considering the huge surge in attendance and TV ratings last year — not to mention all the extra money Rogers earned in Jays merchandise — that’s not particularly impressive. A lot of that money was already committed to guys such as Martin, Troy Tulowitzki and Melvin Upton Jr.
Compared to his counterparts with the Red Sox and Yankees, Atkins’ hands are tied. That’s the way Rogers rolls.
The headline in the Cleveland Plain Dealer website on Friday shouted: “Happy Holidays! Indians land Edwin Encarnacion.”
For Blue Jays fans, it’s like waking up to a lump of coal lying under the tree.
The Jays’ offers likely left a sour taste in his mouth, which is understandable when it seems they didn’t really want Encarnacion.