D-backs acquire Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar for three players
Jul 27, 2018, 1:37 PM | Updated: 6:29 pm
Minnesota Twins' Eduardo Escobar drives in the go-ahead run with a single off Kansas City Royals pitcher Kevin McCarthy in the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, July 9, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Twins won 3-1. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for three minor league players, 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station‘s John Gambadoro reported Friday.
The D-backs announced the news later in the afternoon.
Arizona sent back outfielder Gabriel Maciel, outfielder Ernie De La Trinidad and relief pitcher Jhoan Duran in exchange. None of them are top-10 prospects in the D-backs’ system, per MLB Pipeline.
Escobar, 29, is a switch-hitter in his eighth big-league season, batting .274 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI. He has seen time this season at third base, shortstop and second base. He is in his contract season, playing the final year of a deal on which he’s making $4.85 million for 2018.
With that being said, I am ready for my next challenge in Arizona. I am thrilled for the opportunity the Diamondbacks and giving me. I’m ready to go and give a 100% on a daily basis like I always do.
God bless!
Eduardo Escobar – El De La Pica!
— eduardo jose escobar (@escobarmaracay) July 27, 2018
He also leads the league in doubles, with 37.
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The trade foreshadowed bad news regarding Jake Lamb, the Diamondbacks’ third baseman who exited a game against the Cubs on Thursday with a shoulder injury. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder contusion after receiving an MRI on Friday.
Gambadoro said the D-backs “cranked up” trade talks on Thursday night, “with fear that Jake Lamb will end up on the disabled list.”
Lamb is hitting .222 this season with six home runs and 31 RBI with a .655 OPS. He has hit .188 in the month of July and .170 all season against left-handed pitching.
In June, Escobar was named AL Player of the Week on June 11 along with D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the NL.
Torey welcomes @escobarmaracay to the #Dbacks family. #GenerationDbacks pic.twitter.com/qj0okqzAyv
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 27, 2018
He has played for the Twins for the last six-and-a-half seasons, and before that, played in 44 total Major League games across two seasons with the Chicago White Sox.
All three minor leaguers Arizona gave up played for their Single-A Kane County team. Maciel, who had been ranked No. 11 in Arizona’s system, hit .280 with 10 doubles and a home run in 68 games. Duran, ranked No. 19, was 5-4 with a 4.73 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 15 starts.
De La Trinidad slashed .311/.403/.442 with 13 doubles, a pair of triples, eight home runs and 56 RBI. An Arizona native, De La Trinidad was drafted by the D-backs in the 19th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft.
Shortstop Jack Reinheimer was designated for assignment to make room for Escobar on the 40-man roster.
