Blue Jays GM: Morales deal doesn't eliminate re-signing Edwin

Just because Kendrys Morales is slated to take over as the Blue Jays' designated hitter in 2017 doesn't mean Edwin Encarnacion (or Jose Bautista) won't be back in Toronto next season, general manager Ross Atkin said Friday.

A new deal with Encarnacion, the three-time All-Star reportedly seeking a five-year, $125-million contract in free agency, isn't as likely now, Atkins admitted, but the three-year, $33-million deal with Morales "by no means eliminates" the possibility of re-signing the 33-year-old slugger.

"It makes things slightly less likely for Edwin, but doesn’t impact us on Jose in any way," Atkins said, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. "We still feel that both are realistic for us. When you sign someone like Kendrys Morales, that does decrease the likelihood of Edwin coming back to the Blue Jays, but it by no means eliminates that possibility."

Encarnacion, who is tied to draft-pick compensation after rejecting the Blue Jays' qualifying offer, has been linked to the Boston Red Sox since early into the 2016 campaign, and the New York Yankees are said to be seriously looking at him, too. This past season, Encarnacion smashed 42 homers with an .886 OPS in a career-high 160 games, helping Toronto to the American League Championship Series for a second straight year.

Earlier this week, Kinzer intimated Encarnacion will likely sign before next month's winter meetings in Maryland.

"We both know where we're at," Kinzer said, referring to recent contract talks with Atkins and the Blue Jays. "December 4 is the winter meetings. "There's a chance we could get there (without a deal for Encarnacion) but I doubt it."