Report: Encarnacion turned down $50M from Athletics

Edwin Encarnacion agreeing to join the Cleveland Indians didn't come without some tough financial decisions.

Before ultimately agreeing to a three-year, $60-million deal with the Indians, Encarnacion rejected a two-year deal and $50 million from the Oakland Athletics, an MLB source said, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Encarnacion's agent Paul Kinzer said the Texas Rangers and Athletics were in the mix until the "very last minute," and one of the factors in his decision not to join the Athletics was the added distance between the West Coast and his home in the Dominican Republic.

While the exact financials are not clear, a two-year deal worth $50 million from Oakland would have paid Encarnacion $25 million annually. Earlier in the offseason, Encarnacion rejected a four-year, $80-million deal from the Toronto Blue Jays and subsequently countered with an proposal of $100 million instead.

After talks fell apart, the Blue Jays pursued Kendrys Morales instead, eventually coming to terms on a three-year, $33 million deal, and later signed Steve Pearce to a two-year, $12.5-million contract.