Atkins: Pearce deal part of non-Edwin strategy

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — If the writing wasn’t on the wall before, it certainly is now. The Blue Jays appear to have moved on from star slugger Edwin Encarnacion.

Toronto general manager Ross Atkins has been saying for weeks that Encarnacion’s return was less likely following the team’s decision to sign free-agent slugger Kendrys Morales. It became even more improbable Monday morning, when the Blue Jays added Steve Pearce with a two-year deal worth $12.5 million.

• Blue Jays land versatile Pearce on 2-year deal

As of now, Pearce is expected to platoon at first base with Justin Smoak, and with the designated hitter spot filled by Morales, the Blue Jays have run out of roster space.

• Hot Stove Tracker

“Our [offseason] initiative was to make an offer to Edwin,” Atkins told a group of reporters on Monday evening at the Winter Meetings outside Washington. “The alternative to that, in our offseason, was the one that we’re now on, which leaves us with other opportunities. One opportunity was a superstar player that we were excited about being here. We felt as though that strategy was not going to come to fruition.

“We considered one that is a similar cost and multiple players. The potential being three players at a similar cost. We would have felt great about adding Edwin, and like I said, that door is not completely closed, but as it stands right now, alternatively, we feel like we’re building a team with just as good of a chance to win with several pieces instead of one.”

Toronto tried to re-sign Encarnacion at the start of the offseason, but the brief talks never led to a deal. The Blue Jays offered a contract in the range of four years and $80 million, but when that was turned down by Encarnacion, the club moved quickly to sign Morales instead.

Encarnacion’s bat is among the best available on the open market, and there are a …

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