Terry Francona didn't think the Cleveland Indians had a chance to sign Edwin Encarnacion when the slugger became a free agent this offseason.

"I didn't think there was a chance to even talk to Edwin," Francona said.

The Indians eventually signed Encarnacion to a three-year, $65 million deal.

"You've got to be realistic that in the winter we play in a different neighborhood" than during his tenure in Boston, when the Red Sox were among the top-spending clubs in baseball. "It's a different challenge."