Teams are calling the Braves about shortstop Yunel Escobar, according to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (links all via Twitter) . The Braves are hesitant to move the 27-year-old, despite his first half slump. GM Frank Wren will listen, but the team isn’t anxious to move its starting shortstop. We heard last month that the Braves would probably consider moving Escobar, though they weren’t actively shopping him at the time.
Escobar posted an OPS around .800 in each of the three seasons leading up to 2010, but has disappointed at the plate this year. He has a .238/.339/.283 line, though he does have five more walks than strikeouts. If the Braves trade Escobar, they would presumably play Omar Infante at short, and possibly Brandon Hicks. Despite his All-Star status, Infante has not been an everyday player for years and Hicks has only stepped in against major league pitching six times.
The Tigers have interest in Stephen Drew, so it would be a surprise if they haven’t conisdered Escobar. The Rockies and Padres could also use help at short, though there is no evidence that either team is actively looking to add a shortstop.
Brad426
Who would play SS for the Braves for the rest of the year? Infante? I just don’t see a match unless someones has a right-handed outfielder with some power to trade for him. I give it a 10% chance of happening.
jdub220
BUT INFANTE IS AN ALL STAR!
bigpat
If the Pirates can get him for reasonably cheap, I’d probably be interested. They need a long term shortstop, I just don’t know what they’d be able to offer.
Brad426
We would LOVE to get your CF again. We would even give you your old one back…
abravesfan
Hard to see the Braves, who obviously have their own playoff ambition, move Escobar…even if they get a significant OF bat in return.
braves in 08
how about yunel escobar for dexter fowler? both players have shown huge upside yet have had some huge struggles in recent memory
Brad426
Can’t see the Rockies needing a SS… they have a pretty good one already even if he is on the DL. Plus Fowler isn’t what the Braves are looking for (although they did just sign Willy Taveras…).
progmatinee
Haha. Thats a horrible trade offer, IMO. Fowler is just going to get better at the plate and he’s already a top flight defender. He obviously stuggled early in the season, but he’s 24 years old and skipped AAA, ofcourse he would have a sophmore slump. Escobar is good, but is quite possibly leveled out where as Fowler is on the upswing.
Ferrariman
i disagree. elite shortstops are much more rare than elite outfielders.
Brv Rocks
The Braves would need a LOT more than Dexter Fowler for Yunel.
jdub220
I LOL’d.
Brad426
I wouldn’t brag.
jdub220
Who’s bragging?
aap212
No team in baseball needs a shortstop less than Colorado.
Yankees420
Not even the Marlins?
aap212
The Marlins could reasonably move Ramirez to another position. Tulo has less of a bat, but is a shortstop beyond any rational disagreement.
Yankees420
What reason would they have for moving him? He provides the greatest value at SS, and unless his defense became unbearable, I don’t think they could reasonably move him to another position.
aap212
Did I say I would move him? I just said the the Rockies have less reason to move Tulo. Take your straw man argument elsewhere. Besides, Ramirez is a mediocre shortstop as a young man. It might behoove them to move him in a couple of years.
Yankees420
You said the Marlins could reasonably move him, and that’s what prompted me to ask you what reason they would have for moving Hanley, not trying to start an argument or get off topic, it just seemed that you thought he should be moved. But, since you don’t, I bid you good day.
progmatinee
The Rockies have natural shortstops in Clint Barmes, Chris Nelson and Jonathan Herrera. All 3 of them were moved to 2B because of Tulowitzki.
coolstorybro222
I’d rather have Carlos G.
RiverKKiller999
I would too but he isn’t going anywhere.The A’s were stupid enough to trade him in the 1st place.
NYBravosFan10
I was wondering when these rumors were gonna kick up again. They always happen at least once during the two most active hot stove times. Mid-July and winter and I highly doubt the possibility of it happening is any higher than it ever has been
Brandon G
Granted he hasn’t played up to his own abilities, but I just don’t see why the Braves would want to trade Yunel. I don’t buy the excuse of Yunel causing problems or being a head case, at least for this season anyway. He has continued to improve on defense and besides a base running mistake in New York early in the season he hasn’t had any troubling moments so far this season. Besides Infante, the Braves basically have no depth at shortstop. Brandon Hicks is pretty much all defense, Diory Hernandez is just now coming back from an injury I believe and hasn’t shown much at the MLB level anyway. I think Infante is too valuable off the bench, but he could step in and play. I just don’t see why the Braves would trade an All-Star caliber shortstop when his value is at an all-time low. Do you guys buy trading Escobar when his value is this low? I don’t see it happening, but stranger things have happened…
MLB_in_the_Know
Teams can inquire all they want, but Yunel isn’t going anywhere. He may be dealt this offseason, but he will not be moved mid-season, unless it is a KINGS ransom.
Tony Radan
Escobar to the O’s for Izturis, Tillman and Snyder? Might not be enough for him, but seeing what everyone thought.
Brad426
Snyder is a good prospect, but the Braves seem like they are set with Freeman as their 1B of the future.
ugen64
tillman has thrown a no-hitter and a complete game shutout in AAA this year, and has generally dominated that level. he’s also only 22 years old. I don’t think we would trade him at this point, especially because his value is probably lower than it should be due to his poor major league showings so far…
Brv Rocks
This is the dumbest idea I have heard in a long time. The Braves have no young shortstop to replace Escobar and Infante is hideous defensively. The pitchers would revolt if Omar was their every day shortstop. The Braves are leading the division so I don’t see why they would give up a key piece of their team in the middle of the season.
austinhb
Can you post the stats of infantes defensive struggles? He has seemed to play pretty well at short this year
BravesRed
UZR/150
2nd – -10.9
3rd – -7.5
SS – -8.8
austinhb
thanks
VoteForPrado
The only way I can see this happening is if there’s another scenario like when the A’s were going to send Holliday and Orlando Cabrera over for Escobar. We would need an impact bat, along with a fill-in at SS. I just don’t see something like that on the market this year. Now that we have a better chance at the playoffs, a trade like that would make sense this time.
akellar
If we can get a solid defensive shortstop and a quality RH bat in a trade I say do it. Yunel’s personality does not fit in on this team. Anyone who has watched his at-bats the last week will see that he is pouting after every called strike and then is completely useless the rest of the AB. Million dollar talent – 10 cent brain.
Bryce44
How about Ludwick and Ryan for Escobar? Ludwick gives the Braves the RH power bat who can play left or center if needed. Ryan is a very good defensive SS who hit .292 last year and averaged around .300 in the minors but is having a horrible year and is out of options. With a new team and a fresh start away from the pressure of playing for TLR he could regain his confidence and become a solid major league SS
quadbravesfan
I would in a second.
BravesRed
Some problems with that: 1) Brendan Ryan sucks badly, I rather stick with Hernandez. 2) Ludwick and Ryan aren’t even worth half of Escobar. 3) No way Wren trades Escobar for two older players.They would have to add a prospect or two.
Brandon G
You said it yourself, million dollar talent… That we are paying the league minimum… I don’t get the whole pouting thing, do you watch the games? Why is it a bad thing when a player is upset about not getting a big hit? Maddux would make sailors blush with his potty mouth if he missed his spots on the mound. Heck, as stated by others McCann is constantly shouting expletives when he strikeouts. Braves fans have to embrace this guy, and get over the fact he plays the game with passion and hates to fail. He isn’t the old mom and pop player you guys want, this isn’t the 1950’s…
aap212
Has anyone looked at Escobar’s BABIP? The dude has been incredibly unlucky. Beyond that, you just can’t afford to trade a legit shortstop these days. It’s the same thing with Reyes. There are so unbelievably few good shortstops that if you have one, you have to hold onto him.
Brv Rocks
You are correct. I have yet to figure out why Braves’ fans have turned on this guy. He is one of the elite young shortstops in baseball and should be considered a core piece of their young talent. He had a bad incident last year with a scorekeeper and some stodgy Braves fans will NEVER let him live that down. However, they will easily overlook Brian McCann cursing like a sailor after every strikeout.
Yunel is a career .290 hitter with .370 OBP and .800+ OPS. Shortstops that play gold glove defense and hit like that are rare. Yes, he is struggling at the plate this year but all players go through slumps from time to time. And, as you said, he has been incredibly unlucky as his BABIP suggests. I look for a big 2nd half from him.
Brad426
I simultaneously like and dislike your comparison to McCann screaming the F-bomb every time he strikes out. In one sense it is a parallel argument because it goes to sportsmanship. The flip side is nobody ever doubts McCann’s effort afterwards while Escobar seems to sulk and pout after a perceived injustice. The incident with the official scorer is just the most glaring example.
Having said that I still wouldn’t trade him if it were my call unless it was a really good haul, which wouldn’t happen right now because of his poor 1st half.
Brandon G
First off, thanks to 19 Rocks for everything you have just said! Secondly, I also agree that Braves fans can overlook when other players make mistakes. Last night Brooks Conrad missed a hit and run and nobody had anything negative to say about it. Heck, Bobby didn’t even go up and ask him why he couldn’t even foul off the pitch. I understand these players are grown men, but I remember when Yunel missed a hit and run he got pulled from the game, and he was benched for a few games. The veterans such as Chipper and McCann rarely even run out ground balls, but when Yunel is disappointed about making an error everybody has to stop and start making assumptions about the guy. I do however question McCann’s effort especially on defense, would it kill him to lay out to stop pitches in the dirt? He continues to try and back hand every ball in the dirt, he should really use his body to stop them instead. It’s a shame when you get outplayed defensively by a 38+ year old Ivan Rodriguez.
austinhb
that was an absolutely unhittable pitch, the slider bearing in on his feet (brooks conrad)
Brandon G
Uh, thanks for that… I still don’t think he should get a pass for missing the hit and run… I don’t care how unhittable the pitch was, you have to do whatever it takes to make contact. Also, my main point was to compare Escobar to McCann and others…
Brad426
Okay, ALMOST nobody doubts McCann’s effort.
akellar
Stats are useful but not the answer always. He’s good at putting the bat on the ball however the ball is generally slowly rolled to the middle infielders. Not sure thats unlucky as much as it is impatient and overswinging. I guess I fail to understand why everyone thinks he’ll snap out of it but wants to find someone to replace McLouth. I don’t think either of these guys are going to just magically “find it”. Yunel hasn’t proven to have the right attitude to adjust. He still acts like all of the issues are someone else’s fault (official scorer giving him an error, umps calling boaderline strikes, etc).
aap212
BABIP tends to correct itself over time. Escobar’s is really, really low. That’s why. Besides, he’s always been a better player than McClouth. He plays a harder position, plays it better, and has always been a better hitter relative to the position. Besides, if Escobar gets on base 37% of the time, I don’t care if the ball bounces two feet and then stops while he’s doing it.
Bravoboy10
The one flaw I see offensively is Escobar’s desire to ALWAYS try and go the other way. While generally that is a good thing it really limits him when your as severe about it as him. If you’ve ever seen him up close in person this guy is a specimen physically with forearms that would make anybody in the game impressed and has the strength to be a 20hr guy. Tom Glavine said it best a couple weeks ago: the ONLY person stopping this kid from being a perrinial all-star is himself. Maybe he should take a page out of Smoltz’s book and get a shrink to travel with the team.
randy g
Would hate to give up Escobar for the lone fact of not having someone to fill in for him. i wouldnt mind Infante but i dont think he is the full time answer for the remainder of the year. Do you think the Mariners would listen as Escobar as part of a deal for Lee? I know he would be a rental but the Braves are def trying to win it all THIS year. he would give us the LH ACE we need, and we would get the picks when he left for FA. there would obviously need to be more in the package either way but thoughts?
BravesRed
1) Braves have 3 pitchers that can put up the same numbers that Lee has so far. 2) Braves wouldn’t trade 3 1/2 years of Escobar for half of a year of Lee, unless they’re getting back prospects. 3) Braves would take Escobar over picks. 4) The package would be Lee + prospects for Escobar, because Braves don’t gotta trade Escobar. 5) They wouldn’t give up Escobar for Peavy, let alone Lee.
coolstorybro222
Yeah a trade would leave us with a small hole at short. Hicks is a solid baserunner and fielder, but his bat needs work, plus who would we get if we started playing Infante everyday? he’s a super utility and we have used him off the bench to spell people when we need to. I just think that it is a bad idea to trade him.
tmac2795
Move escobar for Corey Hart then if Infante doesnt work at short then make a move for some one like Jhonny Peralta.
RiverKKiller999
Brewers already have a SS of there own named Alcides Escobar ,he’s very young so I don’t see them getting Yunel Escobar .
aap212
Hart isn’t NEARLY enough for Escobar.
braves220
we have so much trading bait with our pitching i dont get y escobar would be mentioned
Big Ben
Escobar is making ~450K this season going into his first arbitration year (I think), where he’ll likely get a decent raise, but probably not to anything more than 2-3 million…find me where you’re going to find another player like him, offensively and defensively, for that kind of cash? there’s obvious reasons why this guy is a huge interest to teams coming to the deadline at that salary and that potential…he’ll be arbitration controlled basically through all his prime seasons because he was a late call-up in comparison to guys like reyes…so his arby years will carry him through his age 29 or age 30 season, i believe…the next best option (in my eyes, of course) on the trade market at the deadline for SS’s is stephen drew, and he’s already at 3+ million salary with 3 years (once again, i’m talking off the top of my head here) of arby left, so he’ll likely be making at least a million more than escobar going into next season, and i honestly don’t see a million’s worth of difference in them…
Big Ben
Escobar is making ~450K this season going into his first arbitration year (I think), where he’ll likely get a decent raise, but probably not to anything more than 2-3 million…find me where you’re going to find another player like him, offensively and defensively, for that kind of cash? there’s obvious reasons why this guy is a huge interest to teams coming to the deadline at that salary and that potential…he’ll be arbitration controlled basically through all his prime seasons because he was a late call-up in comparison to guys like reyes…so his arby years will carry him through his age 29 or age 30 season, i believe…the next best option (in my eyes, of course) on the trade market at the deadline for SS’s is stephen drew, and he’s already at 3+ million salary with 3 years (once again, i’m talking off the top of my head here) of arby left, so he’ll likely be making at least a million more than escobar going into next season, and i honestly don’t see a million’s worth of difference in them…