The New York Yankees place a lot of value on versatile players with a high on-base percentage, and this player fits that description perfectly.
Eduardo Escobar will reach free agency ahead of his age 30 season. During the 2018 season, he played 97 games for the Minnesota Twins and 54 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks following a midseason trade.
Throughout his 151 games played, he compiled 48 doubles (2B), 3 triples (3B), and 23 HRs. This impressive XBH total helped him achieve a .489 slugging percentage (SLG). As his on-base percentage (OBP) was an outstanding .334, he ended the season with a .824 OPS.
Escobar primarily plays third base, but he is also able to play shortstop, second base, and left field when needed. Due to this, he could fill in for Gregorius at shortstop for the first half of the season, and shift to a super utility role (similar to Ben Zobrist) for the remainder of the season.
If the Yankees intend for the future of their infield to contain Andujar at third base, Torres at second base, and Gregorius at shortstop, Escobar may be the perfect piece for the team to add during the upcoming free agent signing period. Escobar is a switch hitter, so he will be able to slot into any lineup at a variety of positions.
This could help the Yankees give lefties a rest against tough left-handed starters as well as help the team rest players like Judge, Stanton, Torres, and Andujar without losing an XBH threat at the plate. Although Escobar will likely not be a cheap signing for the team, he will definitely be much cheaper than Machado and could create a lot of options for manager Aaron Boone when he is creating lineups.
If the Yankees decide to sign Escobar, the money saved by either choosing not to sign Machado or not being able to sign Machado could be used to go after a top-tier starting pitcher, such as Patrick Corbin.