Yankees add AL HR chief Encarnacion from M’s

The Seattle Mariners traded American League house run chief Edwin Encarnacion to the New York Yankees for money concerns and minor league pitcher Juan Then on Saturday night time.

The Mariners are together with vital cash on Encarnacion’s contract, which features a $20 million membership possibility with a $5 million buyout for the 2020 season, sources instructed ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Then, a 19-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, returns to the Mariners group, from which the Yankees acquired him in 2017.

Encarnacion, 36, has hit 21 house runs this season in 65 video games. The Dominican slugger has 18 profession house runs at Yankee Stadium, his second most at any stadium that he has not beforehand known as house, trailing solely Fenway Park.

How he’ll slot into the Yankees’ lineup stays to be seen. For now, it might seem he’ll determine within the rotation at designated hitter. It is a group that, of late, has included regulars Luke Voit and Gary Sanchez in addition to Clint Frazier — and some other participant in want of a partial time without work.

“There’s at all times room for good gamers,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated, laughing, earlier than the commerce was formally introduced. Boone admitted to listening to some “rumors” of the commerce in the course of the Yankees’ Eight-Four win over the Chicago White Sox.

In a matter of days, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Choose may be part of the listing of Yankees DHs, as they’re wrapping up rehab assignments with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Stanton already is predicted again in pinstripes Tuesday, when the Yankees tackle the Tampa Bay Rays within the second recreation of a three-game house sequence.

“I do not know what he felt about his scenario [in Seattle], however I feel anyone’s excited to return to the Yankees with the potential that we really feel like we have now this 12 months,” stated Yankees starter J.A. Happ, Encarnacion’s former teammate in Toronto. “He will match proper in with our lineup. Taking a bit strain off different guys is an efficient factor.”

Encarnacion, who has missed Seattle’s previous three video games due to again soreness, additionally may present added depth on the nook infield positions, the place he has performed earlier than, and the place the Yankees have want.

Gio Urshela has come alongside as New York’s main third baseman within the wake of Miguel Andujar’s season-ending shoulder harm in April, and Voit emerged in spring coaching because the starter at first base. Though slick-fielding infielder DJ LeMahieu will play each positions just about weekly as a part of a rotation now that shortstop Didi Gregorius is again from the injured listing, there’s actually nobody else behind Urshela and Voit.

First baseman Kendrys Morales was traded to the Yankees from Oakland final month, however he has struggled in his time within the Bronx. Together with a three-hit recreation final Tuesday in opposition to the Mets, Morales is hitting simply .194.

SeasonsPlayerYears2012-18E. Encarnación72014-18N. Cruz52015-18M. Machado42015-18N Arenado4– ESPN Stats & Data

Following that sturdy afternoon within the Subway Collection, Morales was placed on the 10-day injured listing with a left calf pressure. Boone stated earlier this weekend that the IL stint can be brief.

However now with Morales out of the combo and his spot on the 40-man roster in obvious jeopardy, Encarnacion may very well be given his alternatives at first base. In Seattle this season, Encarnacion had break up duties at first base and at DH, and he additionally performed an inning at second base in a recreation within the Bronx final month. He hasn’t performed third since 2013.

Nevertheless Encarnacion matches within the lineup, Happ believes he shall be an ideal addition to the clubhouse.

“He does not say rather a lot, however he works exhausting and he is ready,” Happ stated. “These are a number of the causes I feel he’ll actually get pleasure from it right here.”

The commerce largely was a shock to Yankees followers, who’ve been vocal the previous few weeks in asking for pitching assist. With Yankees starters battling giving up the lengthy ball within the first two video games of their sequence in Chicago, that want has instantly turn into extra obvious.

Encarnacion has hit 284 of his 401 profession house runs for the reason that 2012 season, probably the most of any participant within the league in that span, and he’s on his strategy to an eighth straight season of not less than 30 homers. Prior to now seven, he is had not less than 32 homers and 98 RBIs.

He was in his first season with Seattle after the Indians traded him for Carlos Santana and money in December as a part of a three-team commerce that additionally noticed Jake Bauers transfer from Tampa Bay to Cleveland.

Since November, the Mariners have offloaded quite a few gamers in trades, together with second baseman Robinson Cano, nearer Edwin Diaz, shortstop Jean Segura, left-hander James Paxton, outfielder Jay Bruce, catcher Mike Zunino, outfielder Ben Gamel and reduction pitcher Alex Colome.