Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes is reporting that the Cleveland Indians are engaged in trade talks during the winter meetings in Las Vegas that could see Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso, or Yandy Diaz shipped elsewhere as part of a three-team deal.
The appeal of trading Encarnacion is obvious. The 35-year-old part-time first baseman, part-time designated hitter will earn $20 million next season, with a club option for 2020 that includes a $5 million buyout. That is the highest salary on the Indians’ current roster and accounts for more than 20 percent of their current 2019 payroll.