ESPN ranks this slugger as the greatest free agent signing in Blue Jays history

Recently, ESPN came out with their list of the best free agent signings in MLB history in celebration of the 50th anniversary for baseball free agency. They focused on the impact that the player eventually had on the organization, along with the massive value that they had provided given their free agent contract at the time.

The Toronto Blue Jays are fortunate to find themselves with a truly-deserving representative among the top 25 greatest free signings in all of baseball during the past half-century. Ranked at No. 18 on the distinguished list is none other than former Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion. Because he was the top Toronto representative that made the cut, with Roger Clemens taking the No. 24 spot, it ultimately makes Encarnacion the greatest free agent signing in Blue Jays history, according to ESPN.

Edwin Encarnacion gave the Blue Jays massive value during his time in Toronto

But what really made Encarnacion’s deal especially special and stand out in particular was the multitude of circumstances that led up to the pact. As pointed out by Bradford Doolittle of ESPN, the former Jays star initially joined the organization via the Scott Rolen trade with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009.

Despite a whirlwind 2010 campaign with the Blue Jays in which Encarnacion was designated for assignment and recorded an impressive 21 home run and 51 RBIs over 96 games played during the same season, he was surprisingly claimed off of waivers by the Oakland Athletics during the 2010-11 offseason. Just almost one month later, the slugger was non-tendered by the Athletics, leading up to him re-signing with the Blue Jays on just a one-year, $2.5 million deal in free agency.

Encarnacion would go on to spend eight total seasons with Toronto, registering 30+ home runs and 95+ RBIs for five of those years in helping the Jays reach the postseason in two separate occasions. Of course, he will forever be remembered for his marquee moment when he launched an extra-inning, game-winning three-run home run during the 2016 AL Wild Card game against the Baltimore Orioles to send the Blue Jays to the ALDS.

In total, Encarnacion amassed a .268 average, .878 OPS, 24.9 bWAR, along with 593 runs scored, 239 home runs and 679 RBIs in 999 total games played with Toronto (yes, he was just one game away from the 1000-game milestone as a Blue Jay). In doing so, he was named to the All-Star Game three times yet was surprisingly never a Silver Slugger winner despite his impressive numbers.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jays should be thankful that what started as just a minimal value offseason move in 2010-11, after the fact that Encarnacion had even LEFT the organization at one point in time, has now turned out to be the best free agent signing by Toronto in franchise history.

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