LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today from the MLB Winter Meetings that the Mariners have acquired first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnación and a compensatory Round B draft pick from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for first baseman Carlos Santana.
"We're excited to add a proven offensive performer in Edwin Encarnación," Dipoto said. "In addition, by adding another draft pick for 2019, we have another opportunity to add to the talent in our minor league system."
Encarnación, 35 (turns 36 on Jan. 7), hit .246 (123x500) with 74 runs, 16 doubles, 32 home runs, 107 RBI, 63 walks, a .336 on-base percentage and a .474 slugging percentage (.810 OPS) in 137 games with Cleveland in 2018. Among American League leaders last season, he ranked 3rd in RBI and T9th in home runs. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound right-handed hitter eclipsed the 30-home run plateau for the 7th season consecutive season. He is the only player in the Major Leagues with 7 seasons of at least 30 home runs since 2012, followed by Nelson Cruz (5) and Mike Trout (5). Encarnación also surpassed 100 RBI for the 4th consecutive season, joining Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rizzo as the only Major Leaguers with at least 100 RBI in every season since 2015.
Since 2012, Encarnación leads the Majors in both home runs and RBI. Over the span of the last 7 seasons, he has totaled 263 home runs, ranking ahead of Cruz (254), Giancarlo Stanton (249), Chris Davis (239) and Trout (235). Since 2012, his 764 RBI rank ahead of Cruz (688), Paul Goldschmidt (684), Albert Pujols (653) and Miguel Cabrera (651). Encarnación is a 3-time All-Star, most recently in 2016 with Toronto when his 127 RBI tied with David Ortiz for the American League lead.
The native of La Romana, Dominican Republic, was originally selected by Texas in the 9th round of the 2000 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Manuela Toro High School (Caguas, Puerto Rico). In 14 Major League seasons with the Reds (2005-09), Blue Jays (2009-16) and Indians (2017-18), he is a career .264 (1705x6463) with 380 home runs, 1,156 RBI, 829 walks, a .353 on-base percentage and a .497 slugging percentage (.850 OPS) in 1,807 career games.
Santana, 32, was acquired by Seattle along with J.P. Crawford (inf) from Philadelphia in exchange for Jean Segura (inf), Juan Nicasio (rhp) and James Pazos (lhp) on Dec. 3. Santana hit .229 (128x560) with 82 runs, 28 doubles, 24 home runs, 86 RBI and 110 walks in 161 games with the Phillies in 2018.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Santana was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in August of 2004 before being traded to the Indians in July of 2008. In 1,277 Major League games with the Indians (2010-17) and Phillies (2018), Santana has batted .247 (1123x4554) with 264 doubles, 198 home runs, 673 RBI and 836 walks.