Encarnacion Agrees To Deal With Indians

By ESPN

Free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion has agreed to a deal with the Cleveland Indians, according to multiple reports and confirmed by ESPN.

The deal is for three years and $60 million, with a fourth-year club option of $20 million or a $5 million buyout, according to multiple reports.

The Indians add Encarnacion to a team coming off its first World Series appearance since 1997, losing to the Cubs in seven games. He is likely to take the place of Mike Napoli as Cleveland's primary designated hitter.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis tweeted that the deal felt like an early Christmas gift. "Thank you Santa," he wrote.

The deal is pending a physical, which reportedly will take place after the holidays. Because Encarnacion did not accept the Blue Jays' $17.2 million qualifying offer, the Indians would lose a first-round draft pick, No. 25 overall, if the deal is completed. Toronto would gain an extra pick at the end of the first round.

Encarnacion, 33, will provide some much-needed muscle to the Indians' lineup, which had the second-fewest homers among playoff teams last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

He tied with David Ortiz for the American League lead with 127 RBIs in 2016, matching his career high with 42 home runs and batting .263. A first baseman and designated hitter, Encarnacion was an All-Star for the third time.

Encarnacion has 193 homers over the past five seasons, second only to the Baltimore Orioles' Chris Davis (197). He also is the only player in the majors with at least 30 homers in each of the past five seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Pirates, Ivan Nova Agree to Three-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Pirates and free-agent pitcher Ivan Nova have agreed to a three-year, $26 million contract, according to ESPN and multiple reports.

The deal, which is pending a physical, was first reported by FanRag Sports.

The 29-year-old right-hander returns to the Pirates after going a combined 12-8 with a 4.17 ERA for Pittsburgh and the New York Yankees last season, when he struck out 127 in 162 innings. He figures to slot in the middle of Pittsburgh's rotation behind Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon.

Nova, who missed most of 2014 after Tommy John surgery, followed high-profile relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller and outfielder Carlos Beltran out of New York ahead of the August trade deadline.

Nova was 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 15 starts and six relief appearances in the Bronx, his inconsistency among the reasons the Yankees struggled for much of the season. He went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA and three complete games over 11 starts with the Pirates. He also struck out 52 and walked just three.