EE shall return

[love_that_reefer]

The Blue Jays announced that they exercised their 2012 option for Edwin Encarnacion and declined their option for Jon Rauch. Encarnacion obtains a $3.5MM salary instead of a $500K buyout and Rauch obtains a $250K buyout instead of a $3.75MM salary.

Encarnacion, 28, posted a .272/.334/.453 line and hit 17 home runs in 2011. I explained at the beginning of September that the Blue Jays were likely to pick up his option because of his strong final four months.

Rauch, 33, posted a 4.85 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 52 innings for Toronto in 2011, finishing the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee cartilage tear. Although he is a Type B free agent, an offer of arbitration from the Blue Jays seems unlikely.

For $3.5 million, EE is not a bad option but he has no real position. The Jays can definitely do better in the DH department and should. EE played 70 games at DH while playing some 1B and 3B as well. Rauch was an easy decision to release. Sucks too since the Jays were hoping he would do well enough to net a draft pick. That was the main reason they got him.

[love_that_reefer]

EE just hit his 10th HR