As the Boston Red Sox begin their search for David Ortiz’s replacement, one name keeps popping up: Edwin Encarnacion.
The former third baseman converted into a designated hitter/first baseman roughly six seasons ago, about the time he evolved into one of the best power hitters in Major League Baseball. The 33-year-old has averaged 35 home runs, 101 RBIs and 30 doubles per season since, and those numbers caught the attention of Ortiz, who more than once in 2016 has been vocal about his desire for Encarnacion to be his successor as Boston’s DH.
According to Encarnacion’s agent, Paul Kinzer, the admiration could be mutual.
“It definitely intrigued him,” Kinzer told WEEI.com on Monday at the MLB general manager meetings, speaking of Ortiz’s comments. “He and David are close, and that meant a lot to him when David did that.
” … He loves Boston. You look at his highlights from last year, I think five of his home runs were hit there. He loves to hit there. The atmosphere … That’s always one of his favorite road games.”
Encarnacion is seeking a five-year contract in free agency, which would take him through his age 38 season. That’s a commitment Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently suggested the organization might not want to make as it seeks to fill Ortiz’s shoes this offseason.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
