CLEVELAND (AP) — The AL’s best team is set to start the new year with a power surge.
One win from a World Series title last season, the Cleveland Indians finalized a $65 million, three-year contract with free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion Thursday.
Cleveland aggressively pursued Encarnacion, who has averaged 39 homers over the past five seasons. Encarnacion hit 42 homers and drove in 127 runs last season for the Toronto Blue Jays, who lost to the Indians in the AL Championship Series.
Encarnacion’s agreement is the largest in club history, surpassing a 2007 deal with Travis Hafner that added $57 million in guaranteed money through 2012 and a $56 million, four-year contract with free agent Nick Swisher ahead of the 2013 season.
Encarnacion’s signing also represents the second major move in six months by the Indians, who traded for elite reliever Andrew Miller before last year’s trading deadline. That acquisition helped the Indians win the AL Central for the first time since 2007 and got them to their first Series since 1997.
Cleveland is hoping Encarnacion can lead the franchise to its first Series title since 1948.
Encarnacion hit 193 homers over the past five years and has connected for 310 in his career. He is expected to split time at first base and designated hitter with Carlos Santana.