Report: Blue Jays, Encarnacion begin extension talks

With less than five weeks to go until Edwin Encarnacion's self-imposed deadline to finalize a contract extension with the club, the Toronto Blue Jays reportedly held a preliminary meeting Wednesday with the impending free agent's representatives, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.

It remains unclear, however, if the two sides established a timeline for further discussions regarding a new deal for Encarnacion, who has stated he doesn't want to talk contract once the regular season begins.

Last week, the 33-year-old expressed his desire to stay in Toronto for the rest of his career, shortly after teammate Jose Bautista - another impending free agent - made clear his rigid approach to extension talks with the Blue Jays (he doesn't believe in hometown discounts, and his contract demands are non-negotiable).

Encarnacion, who has yet to return to the club since having an abscessed tooth removed earlier this week, will earn $10 million in 2016 - the option year affixed to a three-year, $27-million deal he signed ahead in July 2012. An All-Star twice in the last three seasons, Encarnacion smashed 39 homers with a .929 OPS (153 OPS+) in 146 games last year, and will head into 2016 ranked sixth on the Blue Jays' franchise leaderboard in homers (197).