Reds reach agreement with Encarnacion

[thatcoolguy_22]

Things I'm told
The Reds avoided arbitration and reached agreement on a two year deal with Edwin Encarnacion this morning.
Edwin made $450,000 in 2008. He had requested 3.7 mill in arbitration. The Reds had offered 2.55 mill.
Total deal: $7,600,506
2009: $2,000,000
2010: $4,750,000
Signing bonus - $850,000, payable between March 2009 and November 2009.
Plus: $25,000 for 600 plate appearances
Plus: $25,000 for All Star; $50,000 for LCS/MVP;
$100,000 for WS/MVP; $50,000 for Gold Glove; $50,000 for Silver Slugger.
Edwin will donate 1% of base salaries and signing bonus to Reds Community Fund.

http://www.1530homer.com/pages/lancesBlog.html

I like this deal a lot. Reasonable rate for an .800 OPS 3B.

[Grounds_Crew]

I like!

[mroby85]

The good news is they won't have to pay any of the signing bonuses unless he gets 600 AB's.

[thatcoolguy_22]

Originally Posted by mroby85

The good news is they won't have to pay any of the signing bonuses unless he gets 600 AB's.

EE receives the bonus regardless of performance. He will pick up a 25,000$ bonus for 600 PA

[swaisuc]

Makes a lot of sense for both sides. Glad to have Edwin back in the mix.

[Jerome]

Excellent. Now we can focus on other things, like pondering Willy Taveras or the left field vacancy. EE deserves the money. What's more hilarious 1) a $50,000 Gold Glove bonus or 2) a $100,000 bonus for World Series MVP?

http://www.jeromesredscare.blogspot.com

[mroby85]

Originally Posted by Jerome

Excellent. Now we can focus on other things, like pondering Willy Taveras or the left field vacancy. EE deserves the money. What's more hilarious 1) a $50,000 Gold Glove bonus or 2) a $100,000 bonus for World Series MVP?

http://www.jeromesredscare.blogspot.com

lol i know, those were the bonuses i was talking about, i accidentally typed
signing bonus.

Sounds reasonable.

[BLEEDS]

It's fine for this year - next year is the problem. We're set for the following salaries in 2010:

BP 6.75
EE 4.75
Tavares 4
Harang 12.5
Arroyo 11.0
Cordero 12.0
Gonzo 6.0 (option, more likely Gonzo is Gone-zo)

That's a lot of jack - $51M not counting Gonzo - for 6 guys of a 25 man roster. None of them are superstars, mostly high-risk low-reward.

Luckily we have Votto (who should be arb eligible) and Bruce (should not be) who should be cheap yet productive, otherwise we are looking at rookies to fill out out the rest of the roster (with Lincoln and Rhodes totalling $4.5M) - to give us an ~$70M roster - with the SAME issues of no SS and C, and Wily Tavares the "answer" in CF.

Plus, we'll have Votto, Volquez, and Cueto - and possibly Owings, Keppinger, Burton and/or Bray - eligible for arbitration....

Excuse me, while I kiss the sky - and puke in my mouth!

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[TheBigLebowski]

Good deal. I think this will be EE's breakout campaign.

[reds1869]

I like it. I was afraid the number would be much bigger. I'm pulling for the kid and really hope he busts out in a big way this summer.

[NarrowStairs]

I'm sick of having this ugly crybaby manning third base.

Baseball is a business, too.

You sign MARKETABLE players.

- No ugly faces.
- No ugly names (Wigginton, Encarnacion, Edwin, Gomes)
- Good ball players

[RED VAN HOT]

There have been a number of posts in the org concerning the implications of this deal with respect to minor league 3B candidates.

My read is that the Reds are not confident that any of these candidates will be ready in 2010. The two year deal for EE provides a measure of safety. Should someone develop into a can't miss prospect during this year, EE's 2010 salary would not preclude dealing him for a one year rental to fill a hole elsewhere.

On the other hand, limiting EE's contract to two years may indicate a belief that one of these candidates is likely to be ready by 2011.

I think it is a good signing that provides an affordable, acceptable hedge against some of the prospects failing to measure up to our lofty Redszone expectations.

[gedred69]

This is the year for EE to prove he's not another DD, (Danny Driessen). DD had unbelievable athleticism, but jello for brains. I sincerely hope EE has some sense to go with his talent, but thus far he hasn't shown it.

[DannyB]

If he makes any of those incentives the second year will be cheap.