Cleveland Guardians

Report: Indians, Edwin Encarnacion agree to three-year deal

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:58 p.m. ET

Sports Illustrated, SI Wire/Sports Illustrated

The Cleveland Indians will sign former Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year deal, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

The deal is reportedly worth around $20 million annually and contains a player option for a fourth season.

Encarnacion had also been tied to the Athletics and Rangers. He hit .263 with 42 home runs last season and had been a presence in the middle of the Blue Jays’ order since 2009. He has hit 34 or more home runs in five straight seasons.

It is unclear what this means for the return of Mike Napoli to Cleveland. Toronto signed Kendrys Morales to play first base and DH early in free agency, making Encarnacion’s return unlikely. The Jays’ other major free agent, Jose Bautista, remains unsigned.