The signing announced last week was a bit of a surprise, but free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion finally chose to sign with Cleveland. Earlier predictions had the All-Star power hitter either staying with Toronto or heading to Boston, where he would have been the successor to the now retired David Ortiz.
He should provide manager Terry Francona and the Indians with a much needed power bat from the right side in the order, joining a lineup that came up just one win short of its first World Series championship in over half a century. Encarnacion also, by signing with Cleveland, earned a spot on a group that could be called the “If You Can’t Beat Them Join Them” team.
His Blue Jays last year lost to the Indians in the American League Championship series, so Encarnacion will be playing for the very team that last October ended his postseason. When he dons the Cleveland uniform on Opening Day this April, he will join a short list of stars who have switched to the team which just knocked them out of the playoffs.
Here are five other players who, just like Encarnacion, have gone straight from the team that lost the playoffs to the very team that eliminated them.
Jason Heyward
The All-Star Good Glove outfielder was playing for the Cardinals when they were eliminated by the Cubs in the 2015 National League Division Series. That winter he signed a lucrative free agent contract with Chicago, where he earned a World Series ring while his former team missed the postseason completely.
Nelson Cruz
After helping the Rangers to the playoffs in 2013 the outfielder signed with the Baltimore Orioles, the very team that had just beaten Texas in the A.L.D.S.
John Lackey
Just like his teammate Jason Heyward, the right hander left the Cardinals for the Cubs just a few months after Chicago had sent St. Louis home from the N.L.D.S. in 2015.
Manny Ramirez
The perennial All-Star outfielder, who had been with Cleveland his entire career, left the Indians for Boston. The Red Sox had just beaten the Indians in the 1999 A.L.D.S.
Jason Giambi
An A.L. Most Valuable Player while a member of the Athletics, Giambi left Oakland for New York in 2001. The Yankees had just eliminated Giambi and his Oakland teammates to capture still yet another pennant.
