Yankees land Encarnacion from Mariners for pitching prospect

The New York Yankees have acquired slugging first baseman Edwin Encarnacion from the Seattle Mariners.

Pitching prospect Juan Then and cash considerations are heading to Seattle in return for the three-time All-Star. The 19-year-old right-hander, whom the Yankees originally acquired from the Mariners, put up a 2.70 ERA in the Gulf Coast League last year.

Seattle is reportedly sending $8.4 million to New York as part of the trade, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who notes the Yankees' luxury-tax hit this season will be roughly $3.4 million.

The Tampa Bay Rays are eating $5 million of Encarnacion's $20-million salary in 2019, Sherman adds, a condition of the three-team trade that saw the slugger land with the Mariners in December. There is also a $5-million buyout on a $20-million option for 2020.

Encarnacion entered Saturday's action leading the American League with 21 home runs. The 36-year-old has 401 round-trippers over a career split between the Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds.

With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton nearing returns from injuries, the Yankees - currently tied with the Rays for first in the AL East - could soon feature MLB's most powerful lineup:

With the Mariners reportedly in sell mode, Encarnacion joins Jay Bruce as the second big-name veteran traded out of Seattle this month. Established MLB players such as Ryon Healy, Dee Gordon, Tim Beckham, and Mike Leake have all been discussed in trade talks.