Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar was playing in the Venezuelan Winter League on Tuesday night as rumors started to swirl that the Mets had interest in star shortstop Carlos Correa to play third base. Ultimately, Correa ended up signing a 13-year, $350 deal to become the face of the San Francisco Giants. Meanwhile, Escobar was playing his third game for the Tigres de Aragua, his first time playing in winter ball action since 2016.

  • DH Eduardo Escobar 2-f0r-4, RBI, 2 R, .333/.429/.500

Escobar had two doubles on the night and knocked in his first run of the season. The 33-year-old is serving as the DH, so it looks like he’s looking to get in a few extra at-bats after missing a little time during the 2022 season with the Mets.

The veteran third baseman had 26 doubles, 20 home runs, and 69 RBIs with the Mets and slashes .240/.295/.435 with a 106 OPS+. Escobar struggled in the first half of the season to the tune of a .676 OPS despite hitting for the cycle against the Padres in early June. After spending time on the injured list with an oblique strain, Escobar came back in late August and was one of the best hitters in baseball to finish out the season. In the last 34 games of the regular season, Escobar hit .317/.376/.575 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs.

Escobar is under contract for one more season with the Mets and there’s also a $9 million team option for the 2024 season.

There were no games in the Dominican Winter League on Tuesday night meaning Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio and his league-leading .831 OPS were not in action for the Tigres del Licey.