D-backs GM: ‘Knew day was coming’ on trades of Escobar, Soria

Prior to the MLB trade deadline on Friday, the Arizona Diamondbacks dealt the services of two veteran players.

On Wednesday, the team sent starting infielder and All-Star Eduardo Escobar to the Milwaukee Brewers in return for prospects Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian.

Just hours before the deadline, the team shipped veteran reliever Joakim Soria to the Toronto Blue Jays, for two players to be named later.

Following the hectic trade deadline, D-backs general manager Mike Hazen discussed the moves made by the club.

“We made a couple trades that we feel good about,” Hazen said. “I didn’t necessarily anticipate a massive deal.”

Trade rumors had been surrounding Escobar’s name heading into the deadline, something Hazen said was a ‘longer-term’ process.

He said, in Escobar’s case, he was glad the deal was finished Wednesday rather than a spur of the moment deadline deal.

According to Hazen, Arizona had been in talks with a number of team’s about Escobar for ‘awhile’, but the Brewers wanted to move quicker on a deal earlier in the week.

“We got a couple players that we really like that I think fit both ends of the spectrum of long and short-term,” Hazen said.

On the Soria deal, the D-backs general manager said they will have until near the end of the minor-league season to scout which two players to poach from Toronto.

“Both of those guys represented this team with professionalism and class,” Hazen said. “We knew this day was coming… it’s still not easy to watch those guys go.”

However, he added that he’s happy both players were able to land on teams that are contenders.

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