Winners and losers as Encarnacion heads to Cleveland

The Cleveland Indians completed some last-minute Christmas shopping Thursday by reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $60-million deal with slugger Edwin Encarnacion.

The deal ends an almost two-month-long saga of negotiations between the three-time All-Star's agent and his suitors, while also capping off Encarnacion's eight-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Encarnacion's signing has plenty of ramifications across the league. Here's a look at the winners and losers from one of the biggest free-agent deals of the winter:

Winners

Indians

Fresh off an unexpected World Series run, the Indians ended 2016 by adding the best available bat on the free-agent market at a discount. Yes, the Indians were forced to forfeit their first-round pick (No. 25), but this is a team loaded with young talent and is poised to win now. Adding Encarnacion into the middle of the order gives them one of the best lineups in baseball, and combined with their star-studded pitching staff, the Indians are one of the top teams in the American League.

Encarnacion

While there's no doubt Encarnacion has regrets about not agreeing to the four-year, $80-million offer from the Blue Jays at the start of the offseason, the slugger still landed the biggest payday of his career. In an over-saturated market full of sluggers that are capable of playing the same position, Encarnacion - who turns 34 next month - likely received what will be the largest deal of the group. Criminally underpaid (in terms of his value) throughout his years in Toronto, the $60 million he'll earn with the Indians is $9 million more than his entire earnings through the first 12 years of his career. Encarnacion also joins a team that is a World Series contender.

Small-market teams

Somewhere Bud Selig is smiling, as the small-market Indians landed the biggest free-agent target, while the deep-pocketed Red Sox, Yankees, and Rangers were left out of the bidding. Even the Oakland Athletics were said to be in on Encarnacion before Cleveland locked things up. The $60-million deal is the largest contract the Indians have ever given to player in franchise history.

Free-agent sluggers

With both Yoenis Cespedes and Encarnacion now off the board, the free-agent logjam of sluggers will likely began to clear up. Teams such as the Rangers, Athletics, Astros, Rockies, Marlins, Mariners, and Orioles can now look at the next tier of bats that includes Mark Trumbo, Mike Napoli, Chris Carter, Brandon Moss, Michael Saunders, and Jose Bautista.

Losers

Blue Jays

Yes, the Blue Jays did extend the best offer to Encarnacion, but their rush to sign Kendrys Morales remains puzzling. While there is risk in waiting on Encarnacion's decision, his side was adamant that he wanted to return despite his desire to test the market. There is precedent in recent years of players gauging outside interest only to re-sign (Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, Chris Davis). More patience could have led to a reunion. With so many first base/DH players still left, the rush to sign Morales to a three-year deal appears to be a misjudge of the market by the front office. The Blue Jays did collect a compensation pick from the Indians (something they seem to have valued over re-signing Encarnacion), but for a team with World Series aspirations, the club is far worse now than it was at the end of the 2016 season.

American League Central

The reigning division champion Indians are increasingly better. Not only do the Indians now have Encarnacion, but Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes, and the rotation head into the spring healthy, while they also get a full season of Andrew Miller. Encarnacion has averaged 39 homers and 110 RBIs over the past five seasons in Toronto, and has 46 home runs and 116 RBIs in 167 career games against the AL Central.

Paul Kinzer

The main objective of a player agent is to find the best fit for your client, while also trying to maximize his payday. Paul Kinzer failed Encarnacion on both of these this winter. While it's hard to blame Kinzer for failing to take the Blue Jays initial offer, it appears that he drastically misread the market, and was not helped when the luxury-tax threshold failed to drastically rise with the new collective bargaining agreement. Kinzer expressed his frustration through the media on numerous occasions, and went on to further acknowledge his client's own dissatisfaction of not being able to reach the deal he had hoped for.

Red Sox/Rangers

Two heavyweight teams with a clear need at the DH position at the onset of the winter failed to agree to a deal with the perfect fit. The Red Sox had concerns about a long-term deal with a one-position player, and those are understood, but much like the Blue Jays, rushing to sign Mitch Moreland seems like a misplay on the market when Encarnacion, who expressed a strong interest in Boston, could have been had for a reasonable deal. There is a silver lining for the Red Sox, however, as Encarnacion is now out of the division. The Rangers, meanwhile, have lost a lot of offense this winter, but have been reluctant to spend after flaming out in the ALDS in back-to-back seasons. Encarnacion would have been the perfect piece.

Blue Jays fan base

It's never easy losing a franchise legend, but with Encarnacion gone, coupled with the possible departure of Jose Bautista, it has been a tough pill to swallow for long-time Blue Jays fans and those who have hopped on the bandwagon during the team's recent run of success. Both players provided signature moments in what's been a rebirth of the franchise and now are out the door rather unceremoniously, with Kendrys Morales, Steve Pearce, and a draft-pick in their place.