
The Yankees’ biggest need these days is starting pitching but that didn’t distract Brian Cashman from seeing what was available to bolster the lineup.
So, the general manager engineered a deal Saturday night that brought Edwin Encarnacion from the Mariners to The Bronx. The deal was reported by ESPN and confirmed by a person with knowledge of the transaction. The Yankees are paying Encarnacion $3 million this year.
The Yankees parted with 19-year-old pitching prospect Juan Then, according to The Post’s Joel Sherman. Then, a right-hander, pitched for the Yankees East team in the Gulf Coast League last year and went 0-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts.
Originally signed by the Mariners, the Dominican Republic native, was acquired by the Yankees from Seattle on November 18, 2017 with lefty pitcher JP Sears for Nick Rumbelow.