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Edwin Encarnacion 2019 Outlook: Aging Slugger Is Still A Top-10 1B
6 years agoSeattle Mariners first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion is an enigmatic buy due to the uncertainty of his Opening Day uniform. The Mariners traded for him in a three-way deal with Cleveland and Tampa Bay in December but may flip him to another team. Despite only logging 579 plate appearances in 2018 due to a brief DL stint, Encarnacion still matched his ‘17 RBI tally of 107 in 90 fewer PAs and crossed the 30-homer mark in his seventh season in a row. While his plate discipline took marked steps back, such as a five-percentage-point drop in walk rate and his chase rate rising to 29% from 23.5%, his hard-hit rate rose from 37.6% to a career-high 42.4% in ‘18. A notable slow starter, Encarnacion’s shakier second half may have come from an injury, as he was reportedly “swinging with one arm” for a few weeks after being hit on his hand July 15, which then caused a biceps injury. He had a .241 ISO prior to the HBP, which dropped to .206 after getting hit. While the park factor of where he calls home will matter, E5’s declining bat still has immense power to offer as a top-10 first baseman when healthy per our staff rankings and is worth consideration around pick 81, though his ADP of 125 indicates there’s value in waiting.
