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MLB Free Agency 2017: 5 potential teams for Edwin Encarnacion

By Joshua Sadlock

Oct 14, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion hits a single against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning in game one of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion hits a single against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning in game one of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) and right fielder Hunter Pence (8) and shortstop Daniel Descalso (3) and center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) and right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) celebrate after the end of the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 2 to 0. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) and right fielder Hunter Pence (8) and shortstop Daniel Descalso (3) and center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) and right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) celebrate after the end of the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 2 to 0. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Colorado Rockies

It really is unclear exactly what the Colorado Rockies front office is doing. There has been a continued refusal to trade Carlos Gonzalez despite the fact that he could fetch a handful of top prospects. After a 75-87 season, the Rockies should consider trading Gonzalez, but if they remain unwilling to do so, money has to be spent to upgrade the team.

The Rockies are never going to win with pitching and defense, so why not go out and get the best first baseman on the market? Mark Reynolds played first base for the team this year, but is a free agent and should not be brought back. Since Todd Helton’s retirement, the Rockies have deployed a series of placeholders at first base. Is it finally time to invest in a long-term replacement?

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The thin air of the Mile High City will always hold back the young pitchers in the Rockies farm system, and it will always be difficult to build a sustainable winner in Denver. That being said, the Rockies are not that far off from contending with the current lineup that features an All-Star at second base, third base, and right field.

Given five years to slug in Coors Field with Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, and Carlos Gonzalez surrounding him, Encarnacion becomes an easy candidate for the 500 home run club and a fringe Hall of Famer. The money might not be there for the Rockies, but if it is, Encarnacion should think long and hard about how Coors Field could help his career.

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