8:47pm: Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports tweets that Escobar will earn $75K for making 125 plate appearances, and confirms that his incentives will top out at 600 PA. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports adds that the shortstop will earn $75K for every 25 plate appearances after the first 125, up until the 600 mark.
2:13pm: The Royals aren’t completely breaking up their long-term core, as they announced on Monday that they’ve re-signed shortstop Alcides Escobar to a one-year deal for the 2019 season. Escobar, a client of the Legacy Agency, reportedly receives a $2.5MM base salary and can earn another $1.5MM via plate appearance incentives (topping out at 600 PAs).
Escobar, 31, has been among the game’s most durable players over the life of his seven-year tenure with the Royals, appearing in 1105 of the team’s 1134 games in that stretch — including consecutive 162-game seasons in 2016-17 (and a third such effort in 2014). While Escobar has managed just a .262/.293/.348 slash line in his seven seasons with the Royals, he comes with an excellent defensive reputation and ranks sixth among Major League shortstops in Ultimate Zone Rating (+18.5) over the past seven seasons.
For the Royals, the question raised by the re-signing of Escobar centers around the future of Raul Mondesi Jr. The 22-year-old has long been considered one of the organization’s top prospects, and while he’s yet to deliver in a tiny sample of 209 MLB plate appearances, he did slash a healthy .305/.340/.539 with 13 homers and 21 steals through 85 games for Triple-A Omaha in 2017. Obviously, the Royals would like to see more plate discipline out of Mondesi, who walked in just five percent of his Triple-A plate appearances, but there’s plenty to like about the second-generation talent.
Royals GM Dayton Moore told MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan last week that, if the deal were to be completed, Escobar would play “a lot” of shortstop. Flanagan notes that Mondesi would either rotate around the diamond or open the season in Triple-A Omaha.
[Related: Updated Kansas City Royals depth chart & Kansas City Royals payroll]
A full-time move to second base doesn’t seem particularly likely for Mondesi, given the presence of Whit Merrifield, though he could see occasional time there, at third base and even in the outfield if moved to a utility role. There was also some chatter earlier this offseason about the possibility of Merrifield being available in trade talks, though there’s been little since that time indicate that the Royals have had anything in the way of serious negotiations with other clubs on the matter. In fact, Kansas City has been surprisingly quiet on the trade front all together, shedding Joakim Soria’s contract and trading Scott Alexander but hanging onto other movable assets (e.g. Kelvin Herrera, Danny Duffy) despite an expectation that they’d embark on a lengthy rebuild.
Clearly, a reunion with Escobar on a small-scale deal doesn’t signal a change of trajectory for the club, so perhaps the hope is that some veterans that underperformed in 2017 (Herrera, Jason Hammel, Brandon Moss) will boost their stock with a solid showing in 2018, thus building stronger interest heading into the non-waiver deadline. Given his excellent glove, solid baserunning skills and now eminently affordable contract, it’s certainly possible that Escobar himself will emerge as a trade commodity for a team looking to bolster its defense this summer.
FanRag’s Jon Heyman first reported that the two sides were in talks. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweeted that the deal was official. ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted Escobar’s base salary. MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan and the Kansas City Star’s Rustin Dodd added details on the incentives package (Twitter links).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I will guess 2 years and an option.
Unlikely.
Better be as a backup. I’ll be pissed if he plays another 162 games at shortstop next season.
We are rebuilding so a cheap and durable shortstop who won’t block Mondesi is the type of player we need right now. Plus being a guy who is a fan favorite from their World Series helps put people in the seats. I like it and expect he to be a regular tbh
Totally, but I agree a 2 year deal seems most likely. 2/10 possibly?
And Steve was correct, they can easily move Mondesi to 2B and Merifield to the OF where he might increase his trade value.
Nobody is going to buy a ticket to see Alcides Escobar lol.
People usually buy tickets to see a winner in sports and big names usually generate fan interest because it means the team is going to be good.
He’s a fine backup option though.
Lol. He isn’t putting people anyone anywhere. Lol.
People go to royals games to watch alcides escobar?
I’m so tired of people using the ole “ he’ll help put people in the seats” who in the blue hell goes to see a light hitting SS on a below .500 team? Gotta be the most overrated overused term ever. I’d be shocked if more than 10 people bought tickets for royals games that aren’t related to him next year.
Yelp!
I would guess one year with a club option for a second
Lol cmon man you know they ain’t gonna treat homeboy like that
Great move in my opinion. Until Torres or Mondesi prove they’re actually ready (hasn’t happened yet), Escobar is a safe option and you know what you’re getting with him.
They do know what they are getting and it’s bad lol. They could have went another route imo
but the thing is they’re not going to compete this year so they might as well use him as a placeholder and then find out which young guys are ready to take over
But if you are going to be bad why not give the kids a chance now. Mondesi has little to prove in the minors. He needs Major League ABs. now if the plan is move mondesi to 2nd full time and Whit to the OF ok but if they decide that mondesi is now destined to start the year in AAA this is a bad move
$$
One year deal I bet
I can’t see it being for only one year. Just turning 31 and still being very solid defensively I could see 2yr/7-8M.
the problem is he’s one of the worst offensive players in the league
He’s a scum bag.
Guessing they are not in love with Mondesi…
Weird ass story about him. Back when the royals had their World Series ESPN tweeted ‘MVP’ Dad with a photo with him and his kid but I knew of a story where Escobar abandoned a gf and kid. So I posted under the ESPN post the article or post saying rethink what you’re posting. The next day alcides Escobar follows me on Twitter. So automatically I’m like wtf. 2 days later his ex contacts me on Twitter and corroborates the story. I started getting friend requests from all these Spanish guys on Facebook with no photos. Was weird as hell. During the World Series I sent him messages to see if I could mess with him lol he finally blocked me.
And then everybody clapped.
*doubt intensifies*
Why would this be down voted, it’s more interesting than most comments
People assume it’s fake. Have photo of Escobar following me on Twitter and he unfollowed after World Series.
Cool story Bro!
From Betancourt to Escobar….when is the last time the Royals had an above replacement level shortstop?
By that i mean consistently.
Obviously Escobar had two good years (and can at least play defense). Aviles had a nice 2008….but sheesh
It honestly might be Freddie Patek
Rey!
Neifi!!
Angel!!!
Tony!!!!
Yuni!!!!!
Alcides!!!!!
What are you talking about, they have all been great!
Lmao
Anyway, Jay Bell was awesome for his 1 season in KC, but being 20 or so years ago I doubt many remember now
Nothing but love for Fred Patek!
Every inch of him!
“Obviously, the Royals would like to see more plate discipline out of Mondesi.”
Then why are they resigning alcides escobar?
I tried out for a band looking for a saxophone player.
They told me they were looking for someone better. They signed Kenny G.
I got the message loud and clear and don’t play saxophone anymore.
How does this impact Goins?
I think they will give Mondesi more time in AAA so he should still be the frontrunner for backup SS/2B.
I find it fascinating that the Royals continue to not only employ the least productive player in MLB, but continue to keep him in the lineup on a daily basis.
Alcides Escobar is one lucky man that’s for sure as I don’t remember anyone being this bad for this long yet still playing so often.
His predecessor under the same front office
Who the heck is whit merrifield? He was on the top 10 best second baseman and he was picked over Baez lol. There’s no way that dude is better than dude is better than javy Baez
I’m not sure how his defense is, but both are roughly league average bats. Merrifield was a little bit of a better hitter, and that’s probably why he was ranked ahead of him.
He steals bags (34 in 2017) and has a reasonable AVG (.288). He was one of the Royal’s best producers in 2017. He’s pretty good.
Way better baseball player than Baez. Baez is ice cold for 2 months, en fuego for a week or 2 then back to swingin n missing for a month. Doesn’t surprise me you haven’t heard of Whit if your team is the flubs. Double A team for nearly a century. If Baez was a stud he’d be on the field nearly every day even with Maddon managing. Master of the tag thats about it. Youve seen the best outta Russell in 2016 too, trade him now b4 you cant get a ham sandwich for him
Flubs? If you’re gonna troll, at least be good at it.
Russell is only gonna get better. No way Baez is not a stud. He’s only 24. He’s only getting better.
Doubt Merrifield is better than Baez. Russell is better than merrifield too. If anyone that plays 2nd is starlin Castro. He reached his peak his final year with the Yankees and soon he’ll be on his 4th team in 3 years. No chance the Marlins keep him.
Baez is really overated! Just like Heyward
and the Cubs rotation
and bullpen as well!
Yep all that over rated.
Yet the Cubs have 1WS title, 2 Div titles, the best over all record for the last three years, and have been to the NLCS 3 years straight. Yep there over rated. Mad Bro? Laugh at you trolls n haters post not with you. Lol
Please tell me the year and team that has been to the NLCS 3 years straight. I’m curios to know.
Please tell me the team with the best combined reg season record in the span of the last 3 years better than the Cubs. I’m courious to know? Rotation please tell me who was ranked #1 in 2016 in pitching. I’m curious to know. Please tell me after all the injuries who won 92 games still. I’m curious to know.
Please if your going hate n be jelouse little kids and act like a teenager go play your video games.
lol, 3 years….the Cubs were a joke for over 100 years!
The Cubs were also owned by a news paper. This is now that was then. You might live in the past others don’t. If that’s all you got your sad. Point be said we’re talking now not before. Before is over n history. lol. While your living up the past and dancing around your fantasy troll jokes the fact remains the same. No cares about 100 years ago. I’m sure Clev didn’t think about the Cubs 100 years ago. At the pace their going they reach 100 years.
If LAD don’t get their act together their next. So please. This 2018 not 1906. You weren’t even a stain on your fathers floor then.
So until you can prove otherwise for the last 3 years please save your past for another day. Problem with haters you don’t even have the balls to talk about your own team.
I’m a lover not a hater. I’ll talk about the Jays all day and night. And the fact remains that I’ve cheered more Blue Jays World Series Champs than you’ve cheered Cubs World Series Champs. Just sayin.
And unless this was a tricky wording riddle, the last team before the Cubs to make NLCS three years straight would have been the old timey Cardinals of 2012-2014 era. Unless four years straight disqualifies them from consideration. If that is the case, then 2008-2010 Phillies would be the answer. ALCS was Tigers 2011-2013. Brag all you can now Cubs fans, you might be cheering for a Phillies/Tigers style team sooner than you think.
I like to live in the past, but I don’t blame you for trying to forget Prior dynasties that fell apart.
Cleveland has a better chance at winning than the Cubs do at this point. In my Jays fan opinion. The team with the top pitching is my pick at this time of year, and that’s the Tribe. Perhaps the Astros. Cubs got some work to do still. Pick apart the Jays all you wish, I’ll talk about them all day. Enjoy this 3-year stretch Cubs fan, looking good for a 4-year stretch but don’t forget about life before 2015!
Almost forgot– I believe the answer to the rest of your cherry picked riddles is the Cubs, if that satisfies your curiosity.
Although Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Washington and LA Dodgers all won more games and survived more DL time than the Cubs, so I think that last one was definitely a tricky wording riddle. The 92 games part was the key for me.
The Cubs right now are a great team doing great things, possibly on the verge of a historic run, but I’d be hesitant to get too excited yet if I were a Cubs fan. If they win it all again this year, please come back and rub it in my face about being a Jays fan. And just in general. Best of luck.
Had a reply awaiting moderation. Now this “almost forgot..” comment above just looks dumb LOL.
Attempted to point out that the Cardinals and Phillies have both been to the NLCS 3 years in a row in recent memory. FYI!!!
Baez is one of the most underrated players in baseball. If anyone is overrated it’s Daniel Murphy.
Murphy has some of the better ABs in the league.
Not top 10, but top 25 wouldn’t be a hard case to make.
Game on the line, not a lot of guys I’d feel more confident in having a good AB.
Overrated in what way?
Votto, Trout, Altuve, Betts, Arenado, Rizzo, Posey, Lindor, Beltre, Pedroia, CSantana, Zobrist all would likely inspire more confidence in me, but the rest of the candidates all make me debate the trade off between a dangerous vs a smart AB.
JRamirez, Rendon, Turner, Encarnacion, Lemahieu, Reddick, MigCabrera are some other guys that I’d put in the Murphy neighbourhood for having a productive AB.
Harper, Donaldson, Machado, Judge, Stanton, Goldschmidt, Freeman impossible to ignore. Probably missing a couple gems but just throwing some names out. I could easily push Murphy out of my top 25, but he’d be close.
I’d consider him rated pretty fairly if anything. Not really over or underrated in my books!
Newsflash: Everyone on the Cubs sucks except Rizzo and Bryant.
Yeah might be they still have best record over the last 3 years. You must be a swore Card fan. Yeah I be mad too. Lol
You must be obsessed and envy the Cubs seems your on every post talking about them. So either your a hater childish 15 year old kid or just a creepy obsessed person who can’t get over the Cubs and just jealous and worried. Wonder which one it is. Probably all of the above. But us Cub fans love the publicity from the haters. Gives us free entertainment lol
I’ve been a cubs fan for 33 years.
Merrifield had a better season than Baez last year. He had a higher average (288 to 273), got on base more (324 to 317 obp), and was faster (34 to 10 stolen bases). Merrifield also struck out less than Baez (88 to 144 k’s). Merrifield and Baez were about the same in defensive terms (5 DRS each). Really the only categories that Baez did better than Merrifield is homers (23 to 19) and slugging % (480 to 460).
What happened to his speed?
Stolen bases over the past 5 years:
2013: 22
2014: 31
2015: 17
2016: 17
2017: 4
My best guess is you can’t steal a base if you can’t get on base.
i feel there’s much worse hitters than .260 155 hits and 28 doubles
That you base his hitting ability on BA and number of singles is where you got that erroneous conclusion
Reality is, of all SS with at least 300 PA, his .269 wOBA ranked him 36th …of just 37 such SS. Only Adam Rosales was worse, with a .261 in his part time duty
But even worse than that? Of the 216 hitters with at least 400 PA in 2017, Escobar ranked …dead last in wOBA. That oficially makes him the worst hitting full-time player in the entire game last season.
So good luck finding those “much worse hitters” you think are out there
Based off just that category he was actually tied for last in 2017 so technically not the worst. Just saying.
Oh, sorry, you are correct – Alex Gordon did hit just as bad as Escobar last season, with an identical wOBA of 261.
So I guess the two Royals share the honor of Worst Full-time Hitter in the Game for 2017
But hey, at least they have those two guys locked up!
Keep him at short. Mondesi isn’t better. You can switch the two out. Whit stays at second for sure.
If they trade Whit that shows us they aren’t trying. Whit is a great ball player.
No it doesn’t – it tells you they are committing to the rebuild process – and are trading players that a) have current value, and b) won’t be here or won’t be effective once they are ready to compete again.
I love Whit – but he’s not young. He’s 29. I can see a very reasonable case to be made for selling high on him.
But right now, who needs a middle infield guy? Yankees kinda do, but I don’t think they’d be willing to take Merrifield who is controllable through 2020 when they have prospects a year or so away from being ready. Another possibility is The D-Backs, but would they have prospects The Royals would want?
I thought it would have been a 2-3 year deal. Guess not. Hopefully Mondesi proves that he’s the SS for the future and there will be no need to look elsewhere during the rebuild years. I can see them trading Whit due to his age. Also trading Duffy would be good if they can get a prospect who is good enough to reach the majors this year.
Unless they’re only interested in signing bench-level players whose greatest talent is running their mouths, I don’t see the point here.
How many say the Royals resign either Hosmer or Moustakas?
Mondesi will start at SS. Escobar is a backup who can take over full-time if necessary. With his arm, they should see if he can play CF as well.
Did you read the report? Mondesi to be utility or at AAA.
Wow. Costs less money and zero prospects. Preller biffed it trading for Galvis over signing this guy.
Gal is is actually a decent player though. Escobar is borderline AAAA
Why do people keep saying that? It would only matter if the Padres were going to contend this year, which they aren’t.
Why do you keep saying it doesn’t matter? It is no secret that teams want to win as many games as they can. After all, you play to win the game unless you are a sabermetric geek that has never played.
Galvis will help the Padres more than moving down a spot or two in the draft order just by his example for the young infielders that will be manning 2B and SS for the Padres by 2019 and by providing great up the middle defense for a Padres pitching staff that is filled with GB pitchers both in the starting rotation and in the pen.
While the Padres are not going to be contending for a playoff spot, neither will they be contending for a #1 overall draft pick. Even if they had played Escobar they would not have been bad enough for #1 overall. Too many good young players on the roster.
Because it does matter. Only teams that are contending want to win as many games as possible. When you aren’t contending the goal is the development of young talent and for short term veterans to play well enough that they can be traded for something nice. I’d rather be a sabremetric geek than a casual fan who cares more about a few meaningless wins now than building a sustainable long-term contender.
Escobar could have done that for less money and no prospects. And Galvis’ great defense up the middle will not make a difference in the Padres playoffs hopes this year and just have to be replaced afterwards so no value to the Padres there.
But with Escobar they likely would have drafted higher and gotten to keep De Los Santos. Nothing Galvis does in 2018 will be worth that.
Its interesting that you seeminly a numbers guy seems to be in favor of the signing. Because in Kansas city every card carrying sabermetric is throwing a fit over the escobar signing.
Because the Padres needed a stopgap shortstop who could play defense and didn’t cost prospects. Escobar fits that billing.
If Whit is on the block i’d love to see Hahn bring him to the SouthSide. Give em Yolmer & Shields for Whit. Jury still out on Anderson & Moncada like to have a proven bat. Moncada supposed to be a 3rd baseman as well. Let Shields finish his career back in K.C. where he whizzed down his leg in the playoffs, now he can whizz down his leg for a rebuild.
No thanks on Shields. He can continue to whiz down his leg in the South Side for the Sox rebuild.
Whit needs to stay. He has a good bat as well. Throw esky in center field. He can do it. Modi at short and whit at second. Cuthebet third. Not. Bad infield. Then moss at first :(
I guess i dont understand. The same royals fans that want the royals to tank seem to be the same ones against this signing. If escobar is really the worst player in the majors wouldnt you want him on the fielld rather than someone who might be better and cause more wins.
Can we stop with the rumors that a small market team may be trading their best player. In this case it is Merrifield. Teams like the Royals,Oakland, Tampa Bay, are not going to give away their best player.
Sal Perez would be their best player, but I get what you mean.
How can you say Mondesi needs more plate discipline, when Escobar walked at a 2.8% clip last year
Love all the hate for Escobar. Especially by his own fans. Everyone talks hosmer, Gordon, moustakas, Perez, Cain, and bullpen, but when I think of the run the royals had with back to back World Series appearances, winning one, I think “Escobar”, smiling on second after another clutch hit.
Yea he’s not the greatest hitter (not to mention that there aren’t many pure hitters anymore), but he’s durable, an above average fielder, and will provide a stop gap/veteran presence.
Think it’s a good signing. pretty comical for all the hate by royals fans. Even more comical, I keep seeing “let mondesi play and don’t sign escobar”, yet the only reason you guys are in this predicament is because mondesi used steroids lol
Thank god for a rational fan. As a royals fan i can tell you why all the hate. Basically these are stat guus that have hated dayton moore for years and moore won tje world series by doing pretty much everything the stat guys said would never work. Escobar even more so. In fact when the royals won the series in 15 with esky taking every leadoff at bat i dont think the stat fans have ever been able to get over that humiliation. So now both esky and moore are enemy number one.
Seems like a good insurance policy to me: not too extragant in money or years, he will be making backup money if he is not a full time starter, but he could start full time if necessary, and he’s been with the team for a long while so he is someone they can work with and depend on. What’s to dislike?
I don’t get signing Escobar. He plays meh to poor defense, -4, -1, -6, and -4 DRS the last 4 seasons and 1.9 UZR last year, and he had a .272 OBP and .629 OPS. Depending on your preference, he had a 0.5 or 0.0 WAR. He was one of the worst qualifying SS in baseball. He is 31 years old so chances are he is going to regress further.
Are they really that desperate that they could not find another option and one that is likely cheaper?
Could have had Danny Espinosa on a milb deal.
Would love to see something like a $30m mvp bonus randomly tagged onto this contract then see Alcides bang it out.
i’m a lurker but i couldn’t resist to comment about the MVP clause. That made me laugh. How in the world could something like that be in a contract for such a player.