The three-year contract DH Edwin Encarnacion signed with the Indians contains up to $1M a year in "attendance bonuses," according to Jon Heyman of FANRAG SPORTS. Attendance clauses typically "wouldn’t be worth much in Cleveland," but the "excitement there is palpable" following the Encarnacion signing and the team's World Series trip last season. The Indians earlier this week were sitting at more than 10,000 full-season equivalents after the Encarnacion signing (FANRAGSPORTS.com, 1/5). Rep1 Baseball's Paul Kinzer, Encarnacion's agent, said that the attendance clauses "helped push negotiations across the finish line." He said those were a "way to bridge the gap" between the Indians' deal and more lucrative offers from other teams. Kinzer said that the idea of an attendance clause "came up during numerous conversations" with Indians President Chris Antonetti. Kinzer: "To tell you the truth, we didn't even know if we could do it. I threw it out there and Chris had to call (the commissioner's office). He called back and said we can do it" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/6). SPORTSNET.ca's Mike Johnston noted attendance bonuses are "somewhat rare and typically reserved for popular, veteran players." Reggie Jackson had a "notable attendance bonus in his contract" when he joined the Angels in '82. Ken Griffey Jr. had a $3M attendance bonus clause when he returned to the Mariners in '09, and Johnny Damon "got one when he joined" the Rays in '11 (SPORTSNET.ca, 1/5).
SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY: In Akron, Ryan Lewis reports once it "became apparent Encarnacion might be an option" in free agency, Antonetti went to Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan to "discuss the heavy financial burden it would be to bring him in." Ownership "supported the aggressive, costly move as the right fit to the roster." Antonetti said of the Dolans, "At the start of the offseason, we didn’t think that this would be possible because of the economic commitment that it would take to sign Edwin, but they made a leap of faith. They made a leap of faith in our team, in the belief that we’re a good team that has a chance to compete for a postseason and, hopefully, a World Series" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/6). FANRAG SPORTS' Heyman dubbed the Indians the top winner of the MLB offseason, noting they "showed for the first time they are serious players on the free-agent market." Dolan deserves "plaudits" for approving the contract despite the Indians' small market and low revenue FANRAGSPORTS.com, 1/5).
BOX OFFICE DRAW: In Cleveland, Bud Shaw writes the Indians are betting that signing Encarnacion "will make a significant difference at the box office, where a year ago they ranked 28th in MLB attendance." Not since '11 has the club "ranked anywhere except 28th or 29th in attendance." Antonetti said that the "initial surge in the ticket office" following the club's trip to the World Series "wasn't enough by itself to make a deal this size." Shaw: "Market forces made Encarnacion more affordable, but doing the deal for the Indians was a projection on future earnings from ticket sales" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/6).
