The Diamondbacks have officially struck a deal with the Twins that sends infielder Eduardo Escobar to Arizona. Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes of The Athletic (Twitter link) reported an agreement was close, while Jon Heyman of Fancred tweets that there is in fact a deal in place.
In return, the Twins will get three Class A ballplayers in the deal, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets. Righty Jhoan Duran and outfielders Ernie De La Trinidad and Gabriel Maciel are all going to Minnesota. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 had tweeted that a trio of minor-leaguers would go to the Twins in the deal.
Escobar will reach free agency at season’s end, making him an obvious trade piece for the Twins. While the Minnesota club is still not fully buried in the AL Central, with a seven-game deficit, the club obviously determined that it was not close enough to the talented Indians to hold off on moving veteran assets.
With the deadline drawing near, Escobar arguably rated as the top infielder available. He is earning just $4.8MM this year, so his salary was rather easy to absorb for most contenders. Esobar sat at 18th on MLBTR’s recent listing of the top 75 trade deadline candidates, though he would have been significantly higher had it been clear that the Twins were ready to deal.
Even with Escobar leaving the market, there still remain quite a few other potential infield targets. Top rentals include now-former teammate Brian Dozier (who is likely limited to second base), Asdrubal Cabrera, Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler, and a group of veteran shortstops (Adeiny Hechavarria, Jose Iglesias, Freddy Galvis).
For the time being, at least, it seems likely that Escobar will slot in at third base, which is where he has spent most of the year. D-Backs incumbent Jake Lamb is dealing with a shoulder injury that may require a DL stint. He has also struggled mightily at the plate this year after two consecutive quality campaigns.
Escobar certainly has not had any difficulties putting bat to ball in 2018. He’s sporting a career-best .274/.338/.514 batting line with 15 home runs through 408 plate appearances. That’s a fair sight more than the switch-hitter has ever produced at the plate over a full season in the past, though Escobar has posted roughly league-average batting lines in three of the past four campaigns.
Of course, the Diamondbacks will surely still hope that Lamb can return and provide a boost. It’s notable, then, that Escobar has extensive experience at shortstop and also has spent time at second base (as well as the corner outfield). He may ultimately end up moving around the diamond as needs dictate down the stretch.
On the Twins’ side, there’s some interesting young talent coming back. Per MLB.com’s recently updated organizational rankings, Maciel ranked as the 11th-best prospect in the Arizona system, with Duran listed in the 19th spot. Maciel is valued for his ability to get aboard and do damage on the basepaths when he does. Entering the season, Baseball America rated both of those players among the thirty best Diamondbacks prospects. In their latest look, they bumped Duran into the club’s top-ten list on the basis of his big heater and “power curve.” While he still needs a third pitch to profile as a future starter, it seems there’s a lot to like about his arm.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I like this pickup. We definitely needed sone infield depth.
This is an upgrade for the DBacks, not depth. Other than Goldy, the entire IF has hit poorly. Ahmed and Scals are having a good month and Marte was good in June, but other than that, it’s been terrible.
Their hand was probably forced after Lamb hurt his shoulder yesterday. Hopefully this guys helps out the offense, which has been inconsistent this season
I hope the twins got value. This is the official white flag, escobar was easily one of their best players
I think the Twins got good value. I really like OF De La Trinidad. Who’s coming up in the Twins system? They better have IFs ready.
Gordon in 2019 and Lewis in 2020/2021. Until then Polanco and Adrianza can probably hold down the fort. May QO Dozier, but the way he’s playing it might be tough.
Hey thanks DBacks! I’m going to the Red Sox game tonight and maybe we’ll win without this guys big bat!
Got to agree, he has eat us a new one with his bat
hey great job, Matty K! another one off your list.
Not going to lie – I’ve been saying that the Phillies shouldn’t have spent the requirements to get Manny because the cost was too much in what was essentially deemed a non-contending year at the beginning, but since they’ve been leading the NL East, the one guy who made absolute sense to them was Escobar. The price shouldn’t be too much, and he vastly improves the left side of the infield for them.
Details haven’t been released yet, but anyone comparing the Arizona and Philadelphia farms after the midseason prospect rankings can tell you that Philadelphia should have been able to beat the offer unless it’s exorbitant.
I heartily agree. I didn’t want Manny this year. The cost was too high.
Let’s see where this year goes and if we get close, then make the plunge next year. This team is still young. I’d like to see them be at their peak when they finally make it far in the playoffs.
Dozier and duke will be traded by the end of the weekend I’m guessing.
Well, this ruined my day. Understand the move and wish him well though
Another missed opportunity for the brew crew
This. Would have been a perfect get for MIL.
Was hoping for him too but still some good options left.
I was really hoping the brew crew would get him. I guess Cabrera and Wheeler must be closer than we think
never mind apparently the Phillies got Cabrera is Stearns off today or something?
Have your people contact Baltimore about Schoop. He’s heating up and has a year to go on his contract.
This. Schoop will also outhit Escobar and Dozier down the stretch.
They do hate giving up any players mid-season. Not at all shocking
Excellent move that likely doesn’t include one of the D-backs’ top prospects… let’s hope the top prospect(s) is(are) reserved for a deal for Chris Archer!
Please take him away. Please.
Sad if the Twins are throwing in the towel. I know it sounds strange but I didn’t want an easy win in the division and wanted to see the Twins improve and challenge Cleveland so the games really matter in September and make it exciting.
The Twins catching the Indians would probably be more commentary on the quality of the Indians than the Twins.
Maybe see Solarte moved to the the brewers now?
They’d have to give up too much
Hazen is shooting his wad this year with Pollock & Corbin leaving at the end of this season. Lamb injury certainly forced this move. Solid move, imo doesn’t move the needle in the division. Dbacks simply don’t have the prospects to make a game changing trade that will make them favorites to win the division.
They could make moves going after high leverage players with large contracts but they couldn’t afford that long term
Nice get by the D-Backs. I was hoping the Indians would pull the trigger but then I forgot how inept the front office is in Cleveland. My gusss is the Indians will acquire guys like Bret Lillibridge and Lars Anderson again and rave about each of them being “great values.”
I give them zero credit for the Hand trade because any idiot could trade a top prospect for a middle reliever.
2 middle relievers with a ton of control
Hand also isn’t a middle reliever.
I’m amazed how they’re able to grab and grab with these trades. Did they empty their farm a few years back under Stewart’s watch
Eduardo Escobar Amazing 2018 Resurgence
.514 SLG career-high
.338 OBP career-high
.852 OPS career-high
34 walks career-high (1 more than 2017, ~100 less AB)
37 doubles career high
Can’t be biased 😉
GDP-7 —T-career high
CS-3 3– T-career high
exclude 7 AB rookie season,: 2018 .274 BA career high
Also meant to say 3 CS*.
For a guy who was supposed to be a halfway decent bench infielder he’s had a pretty good overall track record.
Guy is on pace to hit 62 doubles this year and you cant even get a top 10 from a weak farm? Bigtime steal even though its a rental.
Are rentals cheap this year?
i think GMs value years of control now more than ever. the selling team really doesnt have much leverage. its a “you either get the little im willing to give you or you get nothing when he signs with another team” situation and it forces the hand of the seller
Depending where you look, Duran is listed as a 10 somewhere and so is Maciel. Neither are on multiple lists that way though.
I don’t think rentals are worth much unless they’re studs. This is slightly more than I expected the Twins to get.
Hazen got Martinez for pretty much nothing last year as well. He seems to know how to convince teams that their rental players aren’t worth as much as the media claims they are. Even Boxberger and Andriese were picked up for cheap. I like the moves he’s made as GM
Rentals went down in value when the compensation pick was reduced. If the Tigers had let JDM walk last year, they would have only gotten a 4th round pick, for instance, though an extreme example.
Good luck to Eduardo. I’ll definitely miss him on the Twins, and I will b*tch and moan for quite awhile on the various baseball forums about this. Twins should have worked out an extension for Escobar during the off-season.
I am surprised they were able to get this much from Escobar. I figured maybe a 10-20 prospect and possibly a throw in but it seems like this is one player more than that.
Escobar turned into way more than expected after being acquired by the Twins. Hopefully at least one of these guys does the same. I do hope Escobar re-signs with the Twins in the offseason. He always stepped up when called upon and is a great dude.
Yeah, as much as I get it, it’s a big bummer seeing him go. He always seemed to bring more than his stats, and then he really started bringing the stats too.
like the idea of acquiring players that don’t need to be added to the 40 man roster anytime soon
The NL West should be fun to watch down the stretch. I like this move for the Snakes and hope it leads to a great pennant race they eventually take (but I’d put my cash down on the Dodgers).
Twins management giving up on the season again. Escobar – of the most popular players and a key contributor – for three very ordinary Class A players. Quantity rather than quality rarely pays off. .
They are 5 games under 500 with 59 games left, the team had more then enough time and didn’t do anything. This is what smart GM’s do they don’t base their decisions on the 2% chance that the Twins make the playoffs.
Plus AL is just loaded. 4 teams still way, way ahead of Twins—very smart move to get the best deal possible.
They’re under 500. Cleveland’s over 500. And their postseason opposition would be over 600. Anything can happen but surprises aren’t as frequent as we like to think they are in baseball.
Maciel is actually rather good. Wait until he adds to his frame with a bit of power.
Imagine you were saying the exact same thing when the Twins traded Liriano for some unheralded prospect named Eduardo Escobar. The Twins FO did very well here to get s couple intriguing prospects for two months of their utility player.
Escobar was not an “unheralded prospect” when the Twins acquired him. He was already in the major leagues with the White Sox and had shown promise at both AAA and AA before getting to the big leagues. Liriano had been a very good pitcher for the Twins but had become marginal. Escobar has had an outstanding season and while he will be a free agent there was no reason to trade him for three mediocre Low A ball players. .
A #11, a #19 and a third player for a two month rental having a career year? I’d say they made a haul.
You are being far to negative about Twins take. I follow prospects and all three of these guys are legit. Twins were going absolutely nowhere this year and for a rental, they did well.
Huge overpay by Arizona
Maciel is a stud.
Eduardo Escobar is clearly a quality human being and he’s having a career year, but the Twins made the right move. They got 3 prospects, while if they had waited 2 months they would have gotten none.
Best case scenario for the Twins:
Miguel Sano comes up from the minors, plays third base every day, and rakes!
I hope you’re right about Sano. But I’m not going to hold my breath!
I loved Escobar for the Twins. Always stepped in and did his job whether playing 3B, SS, LF, or 2B. I hope they try to resign him. He is a fun player to watch.
GREAT trade! The Mets got ripped off by only getting one low-level prospect from the Phils when the Twins got THREE from the Diamondbacks.
Mets got the Phillies #10. Twins did make a haul, but the Mets still got something for nothing.
The Mets got a top 10 prospect from a good farm though
Good thing the Dbacks don’t need a catcher
Damn, what is Milwaukee doing?!? Once again, they lose a guy they’re pursuing. He woulda been a great fit for the Brewers.
Milwaukee looks to be in on Schoop and Gausman
Will be interesting to see what happens here. Brewers will be forced to give up some good prospects for either or both players, and this goes against the brewers past history. Another “we came close but then they swooped in to grab him!”
Trade the office of the Twins. Just traded away any hope they have. Dumb move
Well it looks like the twins front office might be rebuilding again
Sometimes it gets frustrating it just seems like we are nothing but a farm team for the big buck teams the players we always get are pitchers who have had a history of arm problems or at the end of their career and get players that couldn’t make it with anyone else
Exactly. And if we get someone good they are too cheap to pay them and trade them off for prospects
There’s a significant portion of the league that seems to serve as a talent feeder for the same handful of big money teams.