The New York Yankees fell shy of their ultimate goal this season – achieving their 28th World Series Championship. Raw emotions turn to harsh comments, and nobody heard more than Edwin Encarnacion in the ALCS.
Encarnacion was unbelievable during the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins. It seemed that every time he was up he was starting a rally or knocking in a runner. As everyone saw, his streak went cold and he looked lost in the ALCS against the Houston Astros.
The 36-year-old is signed to a three-year, $60 million dollar contract with a 2020 option. The Yankees could either pick him up for another year for $20 million or pay him a $5 million dollar buyout if they choose to.
The question is: do the Yankees need him as their DH?
Luke Voit, Mike Ford, and Clint Frazier are all guys (assuming they’re on the 2020 roster) that can fill the DH role.
Encarnacion, however, has one factor that makes him stand out above all those guys. He’s an MLB veteran with a boatload of experience and postseason play. Regardless of how he performed in the postseason for the Yankees this season, he still is one of the best hitters in the league and knows how to hit.
The New York Yankees will have a tough choice to make this offseason. They could either choose to go with one of their young guys or keep a veteran in their DH spot. Most likely, we’ll Encarnacion walk. I think he was a one-year guy and he’s going to find himself on another team next year.