Yankees Reportedly Acquire Slugging 1B Edwin Encarnación From Mariners
By Karl Rasmussen
The New York Yankees were expected to be active around the trade deadline, and with more than a month left until July 31, they already made a huge acquisition.
The Yankees have reportedly reached an agreement with the Seattle Mariners that would send slugging first baseman Edwin Encarnación to the Bronx.
The #Yankees acquire slugger Edwin Encarnacion from #Mariners as @JeffPassan reported
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 16, 2019
This is a major grab for the Yankees, as they've added one of the league's most powerful hitters to the mix. Encarnación has already clubbed 21 homers across 65 games in Seattle. He's slashing .241/.356/.531 on the season, and has driven in 49 runs.
Edwin Encarnación has been traded from the Seattle Mariners to the New York Yankees, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Encarnación currently leads the American League with 21 home runs. The Mariners’ teardown is in full bloom and the Yankees get another big bat.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 16, 2019
The Mariners were widely expected to be sellers ahead of the deadline, with the first move coming in the form of a Jay Bruce trade with the Phillies. Now, more of their trade dominos are starting to fall.
The acquisition of Encarnación makes the Yankees' lineup arguably the most potent in MLB. He will provide the team with veteran experience, and of course, immense power from the right side of the plate.
With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton both set to return to New York next week, the acquisition of Encarnación will give the Yankees an even bigger boost in the power department. The AL East leaders just got a whole lot scarier, and I'd be surprised if they were finished making moves.