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| From the New York Post |
In a surprising move, the New York Yankees have acquired 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion and cash from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Juan Then.
The Yankees don\’t really need Encarnacion, but he is leading the American League in home runs, and has hit at least 30 home runs in seven consecutive seasons, and this year will likely make that eight. He is a big time Yankee killer, with 26 home runs, 87 RBIs and a .271 average in 142 games against them. He also has good career numbers against the AL East, as he played in that division for the majority of his career. He has hit 60 home runs combined against the Yankees main two rivals this season, the Rays and Red Sox, and has hit well against other prominent AL teams, like the Astros and Twins, though a lot of his at bats against those two teams are from when they were really bad. It isn\’t starting pitching, which is what the Yankees need, but they\’ll take Encarnacion.
Encarnacion, 36, has a .241 batting average with 21 home runs and 49 RBIs, plus a .888 OPS in 289 Plate Appearances for the Mariners this year. In his MLB career for the Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds, Encarnacion has a .263 batting average, with 401 home runs, 1205 RBIs and a .851 OPS in 7748 Plate Appearances.
The Mariners are in full tear-down mode. They acquired two expensive power hitters this offseason while dumping one of their stars. Both of those hitters, Encarnacion and Jay Bruce, were off to great home run seasons. But now, both have been traded, Encarnacion to the Yankees and Bruce to the Phillies. The Mariners are eating some of Encarnacion\’s contract, and in return, get a decent and young prospect in Then, who was originally a Mariners prospect, (Juan) then traded to the Yankees for Nick Rumbelow.
Then, 19, has a 2.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 50 innings in rookie league. In two minor league seasons, Then has a 2.67 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 111.1 innings.
CarterHud 