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Royals Sign Alcides Escobar

By Steve Adams | May 4, 2021 at 11:21am CDT

The Royals turned back the clock Tuesday, announcing that they’ve agreed to terms with veteran shortstop Alcides Escobar on a minor league deal. Escobar, the Royals’ everyday shortstop for their 2014-15 World Series teams, will head to Triple-A Omaha to begin the season.

Now 34 years old, Escobar was one of the key pieces Kansas City received in the 2010 trade that sent Zack Greinke to Milwaukee. Coming over alongside Lorenzo Cain, Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress, Escobar quickly established himself as a foundational piece for the Royals. He was never a huge contributor at the plate, but at his best he hit for a respectable average while racking up 30-plus steals per year and flashing Gold Glove-caliber leather.

Escobar has appeared in parts of eight seasons with the Royals in the past, batting a combined .259/.292/.344 in just over 5000 plate appearances. He spent the 2020 season with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, hitting .273/.312/.329 through 104 games.

Escobar is on hand as a depth piece right now, but with Adalberto Mondesi still sidelined and being no stranger to prolonged stints on the injured list, it makes sense to bring in some veteran depth. The Royals have already gotten a notable portion of the 2014-15 band back together, as they currently have Wade Davis, Greg Holland and Jarrod Dyson on the MLB roster alongside franchise cornerstones Salvador Perez and Danny Duffy.

Nicky Lopez has been handling shortstop work in Mondesi’s absence and has performed well in the early stages of the season, but he has a limited track record at the plat. If his bat steps back or if the Royals incur further injuries in the middle infield, it’s possible that Escobar will be brought back into the fold and given another reunion tour in front of the Kansas City faithful.

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Kansas City Royals Transactions Alcides Escobar

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View Comments (35)

Comments

  1. Mrtwotone

    1 year ago

    I thought Alcides Escobar retired for some reason.

    Reply
    • rowbradfo

      1 year ago

      same

      Reply
    • Rsox

      1 year ago

      After playing at AAA for the White Sox in 2019 Escobar played in Japan last season. Doesn’t seem like its been two years since we last saw him in KC

      Reply
  2. downsr30

    1 year ago

    I would venture to guess that most teams have a AA shortstop that is more capable than Escobar. He wasn’t good when he was 30, why would they think he’s going to be good at 34?

    That career .293 OBP though.. Yikes.

    Reply
    • tikemrout

      1 year ago

      The fact that their 2015 team had Escobar at leadoff and Hosmer hitting 3rd will always make me wonder how they won the WS

      Reply
      • mick58kc

        1 year ago

        One reason they won that series was because Escobar hit lead off. First pitch of the 15 world series. Inside the park HR baby!

        Reply
  3. mizzourah87

    1 year ago

    This was out of the blue. Hope this doesn’t mean they are expecting issues with Mondesi.

    Reply
  4. A'sfaninUK

    1 year ago

    *ALCS MVP, Gold Glove and All-Star shortstop, Alcides Escobar.

    Reply
    • Sideline Redwine

      1 year ago

      “All star” lol. Yes, Royals fans know how to fill out an all star ballot! (Gold glove questionable also, and anyone can get hot for one series. There is a reason no other team has ever showed interest in him.)

      Context, kids. Context.

      Reply
      • Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)

        1 year ago

        Still looks good on a resume.

        Reply
      • albartenstein

        1 year ago

        @sideline The Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox showed interest in him by signing him to minor league contracts.

        Reply
  5. Bjoe

    1 year ago

    Odd

    Reply
  6. TLB2001

    1 year ago

    Nicky Lopez fell awkwardly on his shoulder last night while making a great play at short. I would think if he goes to IL Alberto will play SS and Esky will just be a backup. Not ideal but someone has to do it.

    Reply
    • lordd99

      1 year ago

      Is he even ready to play? Seems like he’d need a minimum of three weeks to get into game form. Feels more like a depth move, preparing for the long season.

      Reply
  7. Steve Nebraska

    1 year ago

    Escobar, Dyson, Holland, and Davis back. Any chance they could trade for Hosmer, Cain, or Moose?

    Reply
    • expos_back_by_2025

      1 year ago

      I bet Cincinnati would say Yes

      Reply
      • TLB2001

        1 year ago

        Was that a dig on Moose? He’s got a 120 OPS+ and 0.5 WAR so far this season so not like he’s killing the Reds at the moment.

        Reply
    • ftasports

      1 year ago

      Maybe Mike Sweeney and Johnny Damon along with Beltran as well. If they need more depth they could Maybe get David Dejesus too.

      Reply
      • cheesesteak

        1 year ago

        I heard Steve Balboni is still a free agent.

        Reply
      • GarryHarris

        1 year ago

        Amos Otis, Steve Busby, Paul Splittorff, Freddie Patek, George Brett, Hal McRae, Dennis Leonard, Frank White, Mark Littell, Willie Wilson, Bret Saberhagen, Bo Jackson, Mark Gubicza, Kevin Appier, Tom Gordon, Jeff Montgomery…

        Reply
    • bot

      1 year ago

      Cincy/kc is a great match if kc try’s to make a move down the stretch. Moose would be a nice throw in piece in an attempt to add starting pitching depth or a bat

      Reply
  8. Yuh

    1 year ago

    All of a sudden, Lomo signed with independent to make the Olympic team, Alcides is a royal, and forsythe is a brewer! What’s next…. Lucas Duda?

    Reply
  9. The Baseball Fan (Doesn’t like the Cubs)

    1 year ago

    I’m a Sox fan, and I hate the Royals with a PASSION. But, it would be great if he went back to his old days, wins MVP and the Royals still suck. That’s my hope, happy for the guy

    Reply
    • royalsfanen

      1 year ago

      Lol trust me, the feeling toward the stellar south side is mutual in Kansas City.

      And in fairness, his “old days” still consisted of several mediocre years. Esky was a staple defensively, and I’ll always appreciate his years with the Royals, but he had the plate discipline of a six year-old and no ability to adapt.

      Reply
      • The Baseball Fan (Doesn’t like the Cubs)

        1 year ago

        True, glad we both hate the Twins though who are truthfully a 4th place team.

        Reply
    • cobbalicious

      1 year ago

      The feeling is mutual bud.

      Reply
  10. Doug Jones

    1 year ago

    ridiculous! Time for Bobby Witt Jr. He should have started the season in KC

    Reply
    • mizzourah87

      1 year ago

      Not this again… no, he shouldn’t have. Minor league season is starting today. Let’s see how he does in AA in games that matter, and assess him then.

      Reply
      • bot

        1 year ago

        Right. But if he balls out – then yeah, he should be in the majors

        Reply
  11. RaysGuevara

    1 year ago

    When I read this headline, I fell down,

    Reply
  12. thughand

    1 year ago

    attn Kelvin Herrera, time to come out of retirement…

    Reply
  13. Bearded Texas Hulk

    1 year ago

    Is George Brett still a free agent?

    Reply
  14. albartenstein

    1 year ago

    Looks like Escobar will gain 10-5 rights if he makes the big league roster for about 3 months

    Reply
  15. bot

    1 year ago

    That return for Greinke was outstanding! Escobar was the headline but what a solid rest of crop

    Reply
  16. jaybest

    1 year ago

    good to see him back but…there are many younger SSs out there.

    Reply

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