Agent: Blue Jays made offer to Encarnacion, remain 'his 1st choice'

Edwin Encarnacion's heart may still lie north of the border.

In a radio interview with Sportsnet 590 The Fan's Jeff Blair on Thursday morning, Paul Kinzer - the free-agent slugger's agent - revealed the Toronto Blue Jays made a contract offer to Encarnacion, but it didn't pass his client's smell test just yet.

Still, despite the bidding opening up to the other 29 clubs and the apparent addition of "some teams that we didn't expect to be in (the mix)," according to Kinzer, the agent is adamant that Toronto remains firmly atop the 33-year-old's list of preferred destinations.

"(The Blue Jays) did make us an offer and it wasn't quite where we wanted (it) to be, and we've spoken to some other teams," Kinzer told Blair. "But Edwin's made it pretty clear how much he loves Toronto, not only with his words but his actions. So ... that's his first choice."

Kinzer's words come on the heels of a report earlier this week that the Blue Jays were making a "strong push" to retain Encarnacion. The Houston Astros have also been linked to Encarnacion, as have the Boston Red Sox.

Kinzer added that as the pool for his client's services grows, Encarnacion is remaining focused on far more than just selling himself to the highest bidder.

"He loves winning, so he wants it to be a team who's gonna be competing for a championship," the agent continued. "And comfort ... he's not a flashy guy. He's very much about comfort and he wants it to be a city where he knows he and his family will be comfortable and enjoy living.

"He's not gonna go just for the highest dollar ... (but) there's a short list of where he would go to."

Kinzer also revealed that the whole free-agent process might not last much longer, as Encarnacion has eyes on signing his next contract in the very near future.

"With Edwin, it could happen soon," Kinzer said. "He's not one to stretch it out. The worst case would be the winter meetings, but I think we could have something done before that."