Yankees on Verge of Adding Edwin Encarnacion, the A.L. Home Run Leader

CHICAGO — The Yankees neared a trade for the Seattle slugger Edwin Encarnacion on Saturday night, looking to fortify a power-packed lineup that has been riddled by injuries.

A person familiar with the negotiations said that the teams were trying to complete the deal. The person spoke under condition of anonymity because the trade was not completed.

ESPN was the first to report the deal, and multiple reports from other news media followed. It was not immediately known which players or considerations the Yankees might send to the Mariners, who are continuing an overhaul that began in the off-season.

The 36-year-old Encarnacion began the day leading the American League with 21 home runs in his first season with Seattle. He has averaged 37 homers and 109 runs batted in over the previous seven seasons.

Encarnacion was not on the field with the Mariners as they warmed up for Saturday night’s game at Oakland, and he was not in the starting lineup. The first baseman and designated hitter is hitting .241 and is among the league leaders with 49 R.B.I. and 48 runs. He is a three-time All-Star who moved from Cleveland to Seattle in December in a three-team trade that included Tampa Bay.

The Yankees have managed to stay at or near the top of the A.L. East race despite a long list of injuries. Giancarlo Stanton could return next week after being sidelined by biceps, shoulder and calf injuries, and Aaron Judge also is inching closer after he strained his left oblique in April. Both sluggers are on rehabilitation assignments at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Seattle traded or let go of many of its big-name players after last season, with Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz and Jean Segura among them. The new-look Mariners got off to a 13-2 start this season but have since faded into last place in the A.L. West. They recently traded outfielder Jay Bruce to Philadelphia.

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