The Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners completed a trade on Thursday that will see them swap first basemen.
Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports reports that the Indians and Mariners have worked out a three-team deal involving the Tampa Bay Rays that will send Edwin Encarnacion to Seattle and Carlos Santana to Cleveland.
Sources: Edwin Encarnacion close to being traded to mariners
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2018
Carlos Santana goes to indians
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2018
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic added that Yandy Diaz will go to Tampa as part of the three-team deal.
Yandy Diaz to #Indians in three-team trade.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2018
Santana never ended up playing a game with the Mariners after they acquired him in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies that also involved Jean Segura, JP Crawford, Juan Nicasio and James Pazos. The 32-year-old returns to Cleveland after spending the first eight seasons of his career there. He disappointed in Philly last season after signing a three-year, $60 million contract, as he batted just .229 but hit 24 home runs and drove in 86.
Encarnacion spent just two seasons with the Indians and is scheduled to earn more than $21 million next season. He hit .246 with 32 homers and 107 RBI last year. Diaz hit .312 while appearing in just 39 games with the Indians.
Cleveland has reportedly been looking to shed payroll this offseason, but they aren’t saving much by swapping Encarnacion for Santana. They could wind up making more moves this winter, though manager Terry Francona shed some doubt on that this week.
