Comments on: Jays Move Edwin Encarnacion Back to 3B in Preparation for Brett Lawrie?

By: JayTeam

JayTeam — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:36:04 +0000

The reason AA managed to sign EE is that he promised EE that he would be an everyday player. How would that promise extend to his new team if he traded him? All indications are that AA is going to great lengths to show that he is a man of his word. I’m positive EE will be a Jay for the balance of the year unless EE asks to leave.

By: George

George — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:19:38 +0000

I’m pretty sure they will want to keep EE and trade Rivera if they want to make room for Lawrie. Last year, recovering from a broken wrist, playing hurt, on the DL and all, he was on a pace to hit 35 homers. This year, 35 homers would more than make up for a few extra miscues at third base. He’s a bargain at $2 mil/year.

By: George

George — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:01:36 +0000

I know Lawrie impressed in Spring Training this year, and moved his timetable up to some extent, but I’m pretty sure The Jays will let him prove his worth in AAA for a while. There is a lot more to playing third base than what he showed, and they will want to see him hit at AAA as well. It’s easy to get warm fuzzies in Spring when anybody can hit. The Jays will want him to hit the ball when pitchers are actually trying to get him out.
If AA7 can’t pull the string on a suitable trade for Rivera, we may not see him as soon as everybody thinks.

By: John Havok

John Havok — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:14:41 +0000

I just shudder at the thought of E5 throwing to the new E3 in Lind.

The corner IF defense could be very comedic.

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:30:47 +0000

I don’t know how I missed it, but you could be entirely right on making EE a trade piece by proving that he can play 3B and 1B defensively. With Oakland and Seattle being power starved, EE would be a credible option for them to trade for. I’m not sure what the returns would be, but it’s an interesting thought.

With the Garden Gnome name really sticking to Rivera, are we going through the season with a GG and an EE?

By: Mylegacy

Mylegacy — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:20:08 +0000

Basically, I agree.

What I think they really wanted – after Lawrie showed he just might be a 3rd baseman – was for Rivera to be trade worthy. Clearly his spring time audition as the “Garden Gnome” in RF just didn’t do the trick – though in his defense he showed a good arm on occasion. In addition, EE showed less weight, a bit more range and a new dedication – clearly he wanted the chance to earn another shot at 3rd. He did it.

Now Bautista is happy, EE is happy (and still basically in his prime – so even if he’s not a great 3rd baseman he just might be trade worthy) and Rivera is what he is – a 5 million dollar sunk cost that will DH for a while.

What I see happening is at some point this year is that EE will be traded OR Rivera will be cut, Lawrie brought up to play 3rd and Loewen given a shot at DH or at least as the left handed platoon with EE or Rivera being the right.