Unsurprisingly, the Angels will pick up the $7MM club option over infielder Yunel Escobar, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports on Twitter. The team would otherwise have paid him a $1MM buyout.
Escobar, who just turned 34, continued to hit after heading to Los Angeles last winter in a deal that sent reliever Trevor Gott to the Nationals. He ended with a .304/.355/.391 batting line and five home runs over 567 plate appearances.
Ultimately, the veteran infielder isn’t a terribly exciting option. He doesn’t walk a ton but also rarely strikes out, and relies upon batting average to make up for below-average power. While he has carried a rather lofty batting average on balls in play over the last two years (.347 and .339, respectively), that’s supported in some part by the fact that Escobar keeps the ball on a line or on the ground much more than the league-average hitter. (He hit fly balls just 20.8% of the time, as against the league’s 34.6% rate.)
Though he was long a shortstop, Escobar isn’t considered a valuable defender at third. Both UZR and DRS have rated him as well below average at the hot corner in each of the last two seasons. Still, there’s value in the fact that Escobar can handle third reasonably, and also that he’d presumably be able to take residence at second if needed.
All said, it was an easy call for the Halos to make. The team recently added another one-year veteran in Cameron Maybin, and is looking to fill in needs on limited commitments wherever necessary. Locking in Escobar leaves the team looking to add a second baseman (or, perhaps, a third baseman) and build out the pitching staff. The future payroll situation remains unchanged thus far, maintaining some flexibility for the organization.
His poor base running and the acquisition of maybin should mean that escobar should move down in the lineup to either the 2 or 6 hole where he might have more RBI chances
I might agree with this, move maybin or Calhoun to the lead off slot with Escobar hitting 2nd would be better for the Angels. Although, in my opinion, Pujols isn’t a clean up hitter anymore. A strong 5 hole definitely. Move Escobar to 2nd, maybe sign Turner. Or trade for plouffe
What makes you think pujols isn’t a good clean up hitter? The dude just hit.265 with 120 RBI. That’s your definition of cleanup hitter although there are much better clean up hitters in the league, obviously
I don’t like signing Turner bc he’ll cost a draft pick
Maybin’s on-base and BB% abilities aren’t great so I think he’s better suited for the bottom of the order. If I’m Eppler, I try to sign either Turner or Neil Walker and bat them either 2nd or 5th with Calhoun taking the alternate spot. Lineup would ideally be:
Escobar
Calhoun
Trout
Pujols
Turner/Walker
Cron
Maybin
Perez/Bandy
Simmons
Albeit in a shorter sample size, and boosted by a good average, maybin had an OBP of.383 last year, if he can continue to hit for average and take a healthy amount of walks, he’s better suited for lead off with his speed. Put escobar in the 2 hole and cron and Calhoun 5/6 or vice versa depending on match ups. Escobars base running want good enough for leadoff IMO
The problem with last year is that Maybin had a great deal of luck (.383 BABIP) that contributed to his career high in average and obp. That, in addition to the fact that he only walks in 9% of plate appearances makes him better suited for the bottom part of the order.
I’d like to see the Angels trade Cron and another piece for Scooter Genett. Or maybe sign Walker or I really like Sean Rodriguez for the halos.
Cron has significantly more value than Genett. That trade would make no sense
then trade Cron for Genett and a back of the rotation pitcher. Then allow Pujols and Marte to share time at first
I would rather the Angels send Cron to the Rockies for Chatwood and their 3rd base prospect who is playing in the AFL