And then of course that inspired some Reds fans to argue he never should have traded from Cincinnati.
They’re wrong.
Encarnacion was traded at the deadline in 2009 for good reason. He was an inconsistent hitter and generally terrible third baseman.
The Reds acquired Scott Rolen for good reason, too.
The veteran was still a good third baseman and a consistent right-handed power bat (at least until his shoulder went bad).
Rolen also is widely regarded to have provided an important locker room presence during a period of time Cincinnati badly needed that.
Rolen was essential to the Reds getting over the hump after a 15-year postseason drought.
Even if Encarnacion had been an immediate success in Toronto, it would have been a worthwhile trade, but the people complaining now apparently have no idea he still was the same infuriating player for the Blue Jays for two years.
That’s probably why they let him go on waivers to Oakland, then the A’s let him become a free agent.
And that’s pretty much where any argument the Reds should have kept him longer fall apart.
It’s tough to say a player multiple other organizations let go for nothing had much value.
But kudos to him for figuring it out and becoming an All-Star eventually.
Both parties ended up better in the long run.
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