Shushkewich: Blue Jays sign Escobar

According to multiple reports, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed veteran infielder Eduardo Escobar.

February 16, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays have made another acquisition, as Robert Murray at FanSided has reported they are in agreement with infielder Eduardo Escobar pending a physical.

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi has confirmed it will be a minor league contract that should come with an invite to Spring Training.

The 35-year-old Escobar joins the Blue Jays after a dismal 2023 campaign split between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels in which he suited up for 99 games. The Mets signed Escobar back in 2022 and traded him to the West Coast in mid-June for pitching prospects Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux.

On the season, Escobar posted a .226/.269/.344 slash line with 18 walks, six home runs, and 31 RBIs, producing a 67 OPS+, his lowest batting total since 2020. The one-time all-star has a solid track record, authoring an OPS+ of 109 and 106 in 2021 and 2022 respectively while with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Defensively, the 13-year veteran has spent the majority of his career at third base (6379 1/3 innings) but also has over 330 games at shortstop and another 159 at second base. A bat-first type of player, Escobar sports a negative DRS at all three positions and last season, authored a -4 DRS at the hot corner and was in the seventh percentile in outs above average (-7), producing a -5 fielding run value.

Adding Escobar brings some veteran depth to the infield while numerous prospects are trying to secure a spot on the big league roster. Davis Schneider, Addison Barger, Spencer Horwitz, Orelvis Martinez, and Ernie Clement are all vying for increased playing time at the big league level and the addition of the switch-hitting Escobar adds some competition this spring. Should he make the team for Opening Day, he would be the only switch hitter on the roster.