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Baltimore Orioles: DH Trumbo, Ortiz Headline Class of Sluggers in AL East

By Nate Wardle

Sep 22, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) is presented with a broken phone by Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (10) prior to the game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) is presented with a broken phone by Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (10) prior to the game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Edwin Encarnacion
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion (10) gives a bat to a fan after the Cleveland Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Toronto Blue Jays – Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson

Preseason prediction – 1st, Edwin Encarnacion, Justin Smoak, Dalton Pompey

I said that when Edwin Encarnacion played the field, the DH position would be weak for the Jays. That didn’t happen, as John Gibbons used the position to help rest his other superstars. Encarnacion played 86 games at DH and overall hit .263/.357/.529 with 42 HRs, 34 2Bs, 127 RBIs (AL-leading) and 99 runs. It was another good year for a player who not only hits for power, but also for average and with a good eye.

Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are both free agents, and it appears that the Jays are going in different directions with both players. The signing of Kendrys Morales makes it likely he will be the main DH next year, and while he was superb in 2015, 2016 was not as good.

I predicted EE first at the beginning of the year because with another year of wear and tear; I didn’t know if David Ortiz would be capable of putting up All-Star worthy numbers. As we are aware, Ortiz went out with a bang.

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