Oakland A’s win waiver claim on Rays SS Yunel Escobar
By Bryan Rose
The Oakland A’s have been the best team in Major League Baseball for almost the entire season, though the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim eventually caught up to them and now the two are locked in a race for the American League West crown.
More from MLB Trade Rumors
- Shohei Ohtani trade rumors live tracker: Every update so far
- NY Mets leave Justin Verlander in the dark at trade deadline
- This White Sox-Dodgers trade for bullpen help could lead to LA reunion
- Braves Rumors: Cubs trade, Vaughn Grissom targeted, Duvall’s conflict of interest
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal
Given that the A’s are still attempting to build their roster despite the fact there is only a little over a month of regular season action left. One area of concern has been up the middle at shortstop and knowing that, the Oakland A’s put in a waiver claim on Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar which they won on Sunday afternoon.
According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the two teams will now have a 48-hour window to work out a potential trade.
Sources: #Athletics win claim to #Rays SS Yunel Escobar on revocable waivers. Teams have until 1 p.m. Tuesday to work out a trade.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 24, 2014
It was just a few months ago that the Rays decided to give Yunel Escobar a two-year contract extension, so it remains to be seen if they’re really attempting to trade him or if they’re just seeing what type of return he would command.
If the Rays simply wanted to rid themselves of Escobar’s salary and roster spot, they do have the ability to simply ‘dump’ the shortstop on the Oakland A’s though that seems unlikely as Tamps looks to be interested in obtaining some type of asset in return.
Escobar is in the midst of a sub-par .250, 4 home run, 31 RBI campaign though does provide solid defense.