LA Angels Trade Targets: Eduardo Escobar

The LA Angels saw poor offensive outputs from second and third base in 2017. A way to solve at least one of those issues would be to trade for Minnesota Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar.

The LA Angels trotted out some poor players in 2017. At second base, Danny Espinosa didn’t make it through the season while Kaleb Cowart once again proved he is not the long-term answer at any position. So, the Angels are good bets to look outside their organization this offseason for some help.

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Eduardo Escobar plays both second and third. His .251 batting average in 2017 wasn’t amazing, but he did turn in a respectable .309 on-base percentage. Escobar is not the player the Angels should have at the top of their shopping list, but he could be a decent fallback option in 2018.

Escobar’s batting average last year was an improvement from 2016. If he can bump it up another 20 or so points next season, he’s a respectable hitter. He also bats from both sides of the plate, which is something general manager Billy Eppler has been adamant about. Escobar also owned a .263 batting average over the final month of the season. While this isn’t anything to write home about, it was a good way to end his season with improvement.

The cost for Escobar would not be too high. He is in his prime at 28-years-old, but he is not a superstar in the making. However, if the Angels can get an average starter at second base, that is a huge improvement over the past couple of years. Add in his versatility in the field and at the plate, and he becomes a valuable piece for a contending team.

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If the Angels fail to land a bigger name at second, Escobar would be a solid fallback. The organization and their fans cannot have another year of hearing about how bad their unit is at second. If the Halos can acquire Escobar for a mid-level prospect, they should pull the trigger in a heartbeat.