Kansas City Royals see era end as Alcides Escobar signs in Baltimore

It is the end of an era for the Kansas City Royals, as Alcides Escobar has signed with the Baltimore Orioles.

Over the years, Alcides Escobar was a constant presence in the lineup for the Kansas City Royals. Beloved by manager Ned Yost for his defense, Escobar would prove maddening at times offensively, but his remarkable durability and defensive reputation made certain that he would have a place in the lineup.

However, with the emergence of Adalberto Mondesi and his offense continuing to crater, Escobar no longer fit into the Royals plans. His time with the franchise came to an official end on Saturday, as the defensive stalwart signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

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While Escobar was never an offensive stalwart, his 2018 campaign was particularly disappointing. He posted a .231/.279/.313 batting line, his OPS+ of 63 the lowest of his career. Over the course of his 531 plate appearances, Escobar had 22 doubles and four homers, stealing just eight bases. His defensive capabilities were also gone, as he cost the Royals 14 runs at short last season.

That does not mean that Escobar did not have his moments with the Royals. He was essentially the good luck charm for the team during their run to the 2015 World Series championship, as they seemingly won any time he swung at the first pitch. The 2015 ALCS MVP started the World Series with a bang, drilling Matt Harvey‘s first pitch for an inside the park home run as the Royals won the title in five games.

With the Orioles, he will not only get a new start, but also have a viable path to a starting role. Baltimore currently has the duo of Richie Martin and Drew Jackson atop the depth chart at short, but neither player has made an appearance above AA in their careers. Although one of that pair is likely the future at the position, it may be a year until they are ready. Escobar, while not an offensive threat, can serve as a viable bridge for the 2019 campaign.

With his signing, an era has come to an end for the Kansas City Royals. Alcides Escobar is now a part of the Baltimore Orioles, his tenure in Kansas City having officially come to an end.