Gabriel asks…
With the Rays dealing players left and right, do you see the Mets having any interest in Yunel Escobar? While this saga with Tulo is going on, here you have a guy that’s making $13M for the next two seasons with a team option, won’t cost our top prospects, an excellent defender with a little pop, and he can be the leadoff option the Mets need. Antics aside, he looks like the best option for the Mets right now among shortstops on the trade market.
Joe D. replies…
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Escobar is definitely available, however I haven’t heard that much buzz about him this Winter which makes me wonder if Tampa Bay is asking a lot for him.
I like Escobar the player. On the diamond he appears to be a nice fit for the Mets across many dimensions. However I do have some concerns.
Escobar, 32, has always been considered a superior defensive shortstop with great range, soft hands and a solid arm. But Last season there was a huge drop-off as he committed 16 errors and finished last among all qualified shortstops in Defensive Runs Scored (DRS) with -24.
A former second round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2005, Escobar had a bat that certainly played well at the leadoff spot during his first five seasons (2007-2011) in the majors, posting a .365 on-base percentage in that span. However, that particular skill set has declined considerably with OBPs of .300, .332, and .324 over the last three seasons. Usually averaging a 3.0 WAR over his first seven seasons, Escobar posted a -0.2 WAR last season.
Contractually, the extension Escobar signed last April, kicks in this season. It’s right in line with the spendthrift Mets as he’s owed just $5 million in 2015, and $7 million in 2016 with a $7M option ($1M buyout) for 2017. No issues there.
When Escobar is happy within his working environment – as he’s been in Tampa Bay – he is a productive player who can help your team win in a variety of ways. He thrived under the leadership of manager Joe Maddon and had a very good relationship with GM Andrew Friedman. It’s why he signed that two year extension almost a year ago.
I worry about how that dynamic would work with Sandy Alderson, who is not as personable with his players as Friedman is. But my biggest concern is whether Terry Collins is the kind of manager who can keep a high maintenance player like Escobar happy, motivated and firing on all cylinders.
Escobar had a bad reputation before he landed with Tampa Bay that included confrontations with several teammates, coaches, and managers with Atlanta and Toronto. He was once slapped with a three-game suspension after wearing eye black during a Red Sox game with the words, “Tu Ere Maricon,” (You are a faggot) written in white.
While he’ll cost a lot less than a Starlin Castro or Addison Russell, I’m not sure if Yunel Escobar makes sense for the Mets when you consider all the things I’ve pointed out above.
Have a question about the Mets? Email us at [email protected].
