Texas Rangers rumors: Edwin Encarnacion to Texas talk won’t die

Texas Rangers rumors: Edwin Encarnacion to Texas is the rumor that won’t die, and Jayson Stark says today that it is “amazing” how many folks in baseball think Encarnacion will be a Ranger.

Stark says the predictions tend to be around $51-54 for three years, front-loaded with a first year opt-out. So theoretically, that would mean the Rangers paying, say, $20 million for the 2017, and hoping that Encarnacion is productive enough that he opts out, since if he isn’t good enough to get a 2 year, $31-34 million deal after 2017 with no draft pick attached to him, the Rangers would be stuck with an albatross at that point.

Encarnacion would give the Rangers some flexibility, as they could potentially rotate him and Shin-Soo Choo at the DH spot, with Encarnacion also playing some first base, and Choo some outfield. The bat would be a great fit for the Rangers, who seem to be slow-playing things and letting the market for Encarnacion continue to cool.

I tend to believe that the Rangers would absolutely commit, say, $20 million for one year of Encarnacion, which would fill a lineup hole and give Joey Gallo additional time at AAA, but are leery of a longer-term commitment, especially given that Encarnacion is more of a DH than a 1B, and Choo is going to end up at DH sooner or later.

In any case, I’m ready for a rumor about the Rangers and someone other than Encarnacion at this point.