Minnesota Twins: Eduardo Escobar’s top trade destinations
The Minnesota Twins have thrown in the white flag on the 2018 season, in spite of their recent win streak. What could be the market for their top trade target?
The Minnesota Twins entering the seller market certainly added a significant depth of players into the market. As we explored recently, the Twins impending free agent list alone is a big grouping of quality trade targets, but none will likely draw as much interest as infielder Eduardo Escobar.
Eduardo Escobar was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox out of Venezuela in 2006. He worked his way to the major leagues for a cup of coffee in 2011 before playing 36 games with the White Sox in 2012 before being the key part of the Francisco Liriano trade between the White Sox and Minnesota Twins.
Escobar has hit well and provided a bit of offense along with defensive flexibility. Then, in 2017, something changed. Escobar worked with the new Twins hitting coach, James Rowson, and the results have been incredible. Since the start of the 2017 season, he has hit .263/.318/.481 with 35 home runs over 853 plate appearances.
The big thing for his value is that over the last two seasons, Escobar has played at least 10 games at second base, third base, shortstop, and designated hitter. He has also put in games at left field and even catcher over the past two years. He’s also adept defensively at all of those defensive positions, whether it’s at least league average or above-average.
Escobar hits free agency after this season, which makes him a very attractive piece for the Minnesota Twins to move right now, especially after they just got their starting shortstop, Jorge Polanco, back from an 80-game suspension due to PEDs, allowing Escobar to play more third base and roam defensively around the infield for them, at least until they’re ready to give Miguel Sano another shot at 3B.
So who would be the teams that would be the best fits for Escobar? Let’s take a quick look…
Next: Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been rumored with a number of third basemen, but Escobar could be an interesting alternative for the team. Rather than invest in a player focused at one position, Escobar would team up with also-versatile Johan Camargo to man third base and give Braves manager Brian Snitker options for giving guys like Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson a day off.
Escobar would also bring right-handed power into the lineup on a Braves team that slugs .440 as a team from the left side and .400 from the right side on the season. His defensive versatility would also allow for young infielders to get days off as guys like Albies and Swanson have not been part of a playoff race before and could need some focusing along the way.
Escobar would also lengthen the Braves bench come playoff time as guys like Charlie Culberson are tremendous defensively and have a knack for coming up big in big situations, but rather than relying only on Culberson off the bench behind the infield in the playoffs.
Last, and most importantly for many Braves fans, Escobar would likely not be an insane cost, perhaps costing the Braves one of their top-hitting catching prospects (Alex Jackson, Brett Cumberland) along with another piece or pieces. He would also be a free agent after 2018, allowing the team to either pursue an offseason option at 3B or find out if top prospect Austin Riley is ready.
Next: Indians
Cleveland Indians
With yet another outfielder dropping for the Indians this week when Lonnie Chisenhall returned to the disabled list for a recurrence of a calf injury that hindered his early season as well, the Indians may be forced to move Jason Kipnis to the outfield.
That will move versatile star Jose Ramirez to second base, but it will also leave a hole for the Indians at third base. Escobar could fit well into that spot, or he could simply take over second base and allow Ramirez to stay at third base. That added versatility on the roster would be a bonus for the Indians as well.
This season, the Indians have seen a tremendous amount of their offensive firepower come from Ramirez and Francisco Lindor. Adding in Escobar would give the team an additional bat to use, though he would not be without some scrutiny as the Indians do have a tremendously talented third baseman sitting in AAA that very well may be part of the asking price the Twins would have for Escobar in Yandy Diaz.
Diaz is not going to give the home run power that Escobar will, but he certainly has the ability to control the strike zone, as evidenced by his career 316/307 minor league BB/K ratio, and before considering that could be inflated by lower-level work, his AAA BB/K ratio is 165/191 in over 1,100 plate appearances.
The Minnesota Twins are also a divisional rival, which could make a trade more challenging, but with Derek Falvey having come from the Indians front office, he could have the connections there to make a deal work.
Next: Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The simple fact that the Dodgers are even still in the playoff hunt is absolutely astounding, considering the array of injuries the team has survived over this season. The team has been one of the top teams in all of baseball since Memorial Day, and all of this has been with each of the positions that Eduardo Escobar plays being in flux to some degree.
The Dodgers have seen starting third baseman Justin Turner go from an MVP candidate to an average hitter after a hamate bone injury early in the season. Star shortstop Corey Seager was lost for the season. Starting second baseman Logan Forsythe is hitting under .200, and backup Chase Utley is not adding much offensively.
Bringing in a player like Escobar would add a ton to the Dodgers in depth and also in the ability of the team to give days off to guys like Turner and Chris Taylor, who has taken over at shortstop from Seager.
The Minnesota Twins also have a host of arms available, and the Dodgers are always looking for arms at the deadline. With most of them having no financial obligation into 2019, this would fit possible luxury tax concerns in Los Angeles as well.
Next: Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
When highly-regarded former top prospect Orlando Arcia was sent to the minors earlier this year, it really showed the lack of depth that the Brewers have in the middle infield. With a lack of true middle infield options on the trade market, a player like Escobar could be a huge addition for a team hoping to hold off the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.
Currently the Brewers are getting a ton of their offense from their two offseason outfield acquisitions along with their two first basemen. Their infielders really have not been generating the offense hoped as Jonathan Villar is not providing the speed he showed just two seasons ago, and while Travis Shaw‘s OPS is fine, his bat has been significantly streaky this season.
The Brewers retain incredible depth in the minor leagues in outfielders, not to mention the outfielders on the major league roster already. However, they’ve been bringing in the scraps from other organizations this season to attempt to cover their lack of production from their infielders (Tyler Saladino, Brad Miller). Escobar would give them a steady veteran with a power bat that could handle 2B/3B/SS well.
The Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers do have a bit of a rivalry based in their state rivalries. Minnesota and Wisconsin sports in general are significant rivals, and the Brewers and Twins were rivals when the Brewers were still members of the American League. That could change some of the willingness for the two sides to come to a deal, but Escobar could be a good fit for sure.
Next: Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The final team in our examination here may seem an odd fit. With Dee Gordon at second base, Jean Segura at short, and Kyle Seager at third, the Mariners would seem a team very well positioned at the positions that Eduardo Escobar plays best.
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However, when you look behind those players, you quickly see that there really is no one behind them. The Mariners simply have no level of protection if any of their starting infielders were to get injured, which is where Escobar would be incredibly valuable. Also, as Gordon worked hard in the offseason to learn center field, he could take time in the outfield to put Escobar in the lineup over struggling bats in the Mariners outfield at times this season.
The other big thing that could work well with the Mariners is that the Mariners will likely be in the market for another starter, and with Lance Lynn and Ervin Santana both being free agents after the season (if Santana’s option is declined), a package deal of Escobar and a starter could be a very attractive package to the Mariners.
The biggest hang up for the Mariners and Minnesota Twins getting together on a deal could be the lack of depth in prospects in the Mariners system, but the Twins could choose to take on players farther away in lower levels of the minor league system in a deal due to a lack of upper-level talent.
Next: All-time AL All-Star team
That gives a good idea of the best matches for the Minnesota Twins to move Eduardo Escobar. Are there any missed here? Any that we have listed that are not likely destinations? Comment below!