Boom Shakalaka! Edwin Encarnacion’s On Fire

Image courtesy of Daylife via AP

Earlier this season, he may have been on the cusp of becoming waiver wire bait, but now you would be very hard-pressed to find a hotter hitter on the Blue Jays roster than Edwin Encarnacion.

He’s so hot, that it’s like Encarnacion has been throwing up trios of three-pointers like John Stockton. Every time Eddie rounds the bases, I’m waiting an announcer in an over-modulated Super Nintendo voice to say “he’s on fire!”.

EE has been on a tear since the All-Star break, and in the past 30 days Encarnacion holds the 6th highest batting average in the American League. Not to mention, he’s single-handedly been keeping my fantasy baseball team afloat these past few weeks.

A couple of fellow BJH Fantasy Baseball League managers @1BlueJaysWay and @Roll_Fizzlebeef were remarking how that $3.5 million dollar option for 2012 is looking better and better as the season progresses.

Initially, I thought Encarnacion was being groomed to be a Type B free agent, but the more I think about it, it appears Edwin adds more value to the team as DH next year. Also, his ability to play both corners of the infield (albeit, not very well) is an asset that could come in handy in an emergency.

Also, considering how the designated hitter market has fared in the past few years, $3.5 million isn’t really all that much to pay for Edwin Encarnacion to DH. Even if he puts up another streaky season, I’d prefer to have him than say Jim Thome or Vladimir Guerrero at a much higher price tag.

Unless Alex Anthopoulos can find a suitable trade partner for Edwin Encarnacion, I don’t think he’s going anywhere any time soon. The Texas Rangers are a strong possibility, but if any one of 10 other teams in the AL put in a claim for EE, then the Rangers are SOL.

That option for 2012 is especially attractive at this point for any prospective teams interested in a DH or somebody who can play the corner infield positions. Again, not somebody who can play them well … but at least it’s a body out there at third or first base.

We may as well prepare to buckle in for the long haul, because I have a feeling we’ll be seeing Edwin Encarnacion in a Blue Jays uniform in 2012 as well. Get comfortable with Encarnacion, because we’ll be playing a lot of NBA Jam, EE-dition.