Veteran third baseman Eduardo Escobar was granted his release by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The 35-year-old was a non-roster invitee and was a long shot to make the roster, but was hitting just .122 (5-for-41) with 17 strikeouts in 15 spring appearances. Escobar was an All-Star as recently as 2021 but has seen his Contact% fall for three consecutive seasons while his K% has increased three consecutive seasons. He may not have much left in the tank, but he does have the ability to play multiple positions and can bat from both sides of the plate, so perhaps he could latch on somewhere.
Updating a previous report, free-agent veteran third baseman Eduardo Escobar has agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night, pending a physical. Escobar will give the Blue Jays even more infield depth at the hot corner for the 2024 season after hitting a combined .226/.269/.344 with six home runs, 31 RBI and 32 runs scored in 99 games with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels a year ago. The 35-year-old Venezuelan switch-hitter has 13 years of major-league experience but didn't look like he had much left to offer in 2023. In Toronto, he'll be competing for playing time at third base with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal. More often than not, Escobar will most likely come off the bench in his new digs.
Free-agent infielder Eduardo Escobar is moving toward a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night, according to sources familiar with the situation. Escobar became a free agent after the 2023 season when the Los Angeles Angels declined his $9 million team option for 2024. The 35-year-old veteran hit just .226/.269/.344 with six home runs, 31 RBI and 32 runs scored in 99 total games with the Angels and New York Mets. In Toronto, he'll now join Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a competition for playing time at the hot corner this year. Kiner-Falefa seems like the favorite to see the most reps at third, with Escobar serving as a veteran bench bat. The move to a hitter-friendly park in Toronto in a strong lineup is a good one for Escobar, but consistent playing time will likely be hard to come by.
Jo Adell Recalled, Eduardo Escobar On Restricted List
The Los Angeles Angels recalled outfielder Jo Adell from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday and placed infielder Eduardo Escobar on the restricted list in a corresponding move. Adell, a former top prospect for the Angels, has played in just one game for the team this year and has struggled in 561 career plate appearances at the big-league level with a .215/.261/.362 slash line, 16 home runs, 61 RBI and six stolen bases. It remains to be seen how long he'll stick around, but he was hitting a solid .277 (70-for-253) with 21 home runs, 14 doubles, 53 RBI, seven stolen bases and 52 runs scored in 66 games for Salt Lake before his latest call-up. Escobar, who was acquired in a trade with the Mets last week, will miss some time while he takes his citizenship test.
Ronny Mauricio Not Getting Call-Up Despite Eduardo Escobar Trade
New York Mets middle infielder Ronny Mauricio is not in line for a promotion at this time even in wake of Friday's Eduardo Escobar trade. The Mets have no plans to elevate the 22-year-old unless a roster spot clears for him to play on a daily basis. This doesn't come as a huge surprise, considering Escobar saw very scant playing time for New York anyway this year. Mauricio is currently blocked at shortstop by Francisco Lindor and at second base by Jeff McNeil. However, Mauricio is handling some left field action at Triple-A Syracuse of late as the club tries to find ways to integrate his bat into their lineup. Fantasy managers will have to continue patiently waiting on the No. 6 Mets prospect's big-league debut in Queens, which should still arrive at some point later in 2023.
The Los Angeles Angels acquired infielder Eduardo Escobar and cash considerations from the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for minor-league right-handers Landon Marceaux and Coleman Crow. Escobar will help the Angels get by the rest of the season after it was announced this week that Gio Urshela will miss the rest of the year with a fractured pelvis. Perhaps a change of scenery will help Escobar, but fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting much. The 34-year-old Venezuelan switch-hitter slashed .236/.286/.409 with four home runs, three doubles, two triples, 16 RBI and 15 runs scored in 120 plate appearances and 40 games for the Mets this year. Escobar might not play every day, but he should be in LA's lineup often against right-handed pitching going forward.
New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar is returning to the starting lineup Wednesday versus Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore. It's his first appearance since back on April 20 as the bulk of playing time at the hot corner has gone to youngster Brett Baty. However, with Baty scuffling, it's the veteran's turn to get back into the lineup. Interestingly, Escobar went 2-for-5 with just his second homer of the season the last time he appeared in a game for the Mets while recording at least one hit in three of his last four games. Overall, the 34-year-old is hitting just .145 with two homers and a lowly .477 OPS across 60 plate appearances.
Brett Baty Out, Eduardo Escobar In For Tuesday's Contest
The New York Mets are keeping third baseman Brett Baty on the bench to start Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The top prospect, fresh from the minors, made his Major League debut on Monday, going 1-for-4 with a single. Southpaw Clayton Kershaw is on the mound for the Dodgers, so switch hitter Eduardo Escobar will play third base instead and bat eighth. The 34-year-old is only batting .125 with one homer over 14 games this season. However, Escobar slashed .259/.299/.519 against lefties in 2022, so fantasy managers might want to take a chance on him.
New York Mets manager Buck Showalter said that third baseman Eduardo Escobar might play left field in a Grapefruit League game on Tuesday. The Mets are preparing Escobar in the outfield because Team Venezuela might use him in the outfield in this year's World Baseball Classic. The 34-year-old veteran is unlikely to see any time in the outfield for the Mets in 2023, though. The switch-hitter hit 20 home runs in his first season with the Mets in 2022, but he also slashed a disappointing .240/.295/.430 with a .726 OPS, 69 RBI and 58 runs scored in 542 plate appearances over 136 games. Escobar finished the year strong, but he also had a career-worst 23.8 percent strikeout rate. If he stays healthy, he should be a solid option for fantasy managers at third base in one of the best lineups in baseball.
New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar came through in a big way Tuesday night, driving in all five runs in a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Miami Marlins. Escobar was 3-for-5 at the plate with a two-run home run. The round-tripper was his 20th of the year, and he has now scored 57 runs and driven in 68 in 480 at-bats. Escobar has been on fire in September with a .330/.379/.638 slash line that has surely turned the tide for fantasy managers in playoff matchups.
