Edwin Encarnacion Emerging as Possible Trade Target

The Toronto Blue Jays are falling out of contention and the Pittsburgh Pirates are not. Let's start up the Edwin Encarnacion trade speculation. Jon Heyman does the honors...

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Edwin Encarnacion is 29 years old and having a fantastic season for Toronto. He's hitting .285/.360/.574 with 22 home runs and 14 doubles. He put up a .272/.334/.453 line with 17 homers last year in 134 games, so this success isn't shocking. He's a legitimate bat that would undoubtably help this offense. He plays third base and first base; it's kind of disappointing that he doesn't play the outfield, because that looks like the Pirates major need at this point. However, help at first would certainly be taken, I don't know how long we expect Casey McGehee to mash for.

Encarnacion is a free agent at the end of this year, so the Blue Jays would be foolish to not trade him if they aren't in contention. Right now they're 8.5 games out of the division and their rotation is in bad shape, which doesn't bode well for their month of July. There will be a lot of competition for Encarnacion, as he will be one of if not the best bat on the market when the deadline rolls around. The Pirates would definitely have to give up some pretty good prospects for him, but it's not out of question to think he could be had.

Nothing is happening until the end of July, especially in this case. The Blue Jays will only trade him if they are sure they aren't in contention, so I guess you guys should start rooting against the Blue Jays.