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Report: A’s set to receive Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar from Rays

By CM Towle

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The Oakland Athletics are in the process of confirming a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar.

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Multiple sources are confirming that the A’s are acquiring two-time All Star and multi-positional player Ben Zobrist, as well as shortstop Yunel Escobar from the Tampa Bay Rays. The SF Chronicle confirms that the A’s will be sending the Rays catcher John Jaso, who previously played for the Rays two years ago, as well as two minor-leaguers in shortstop prospect Daniel Robertson and outfielder Boog Powell.

Zobrist has been in trade rumors for months now, most recently with interest from the San Francisco Giants. However, A’s general manager Billy Beane said in December that the team wasn’t done making deals and he expected to have more done before spring training.

The A’s now have a whole new infield with Zobrist expected to play second base, Brett Lawrie at third and Billy Butler and Ike Davis at first. Zobrist, of course, can play all infield and outfield positions and is really the ultimate A’s player with his versatility. He often is one of the MLB leaders in WAR (wins above replacement) and led the Rays in this category last year with 5.0.

With Escobar, the A’s are getting a player they asked about a few years back when he played for Toronto. Escobar has a career average of .274 and is considered slightly over average in terms of his defensive play. Now that Escobar is on their roster, the A’s will likely turn 22-year-old Marcus Semien into an everyday utility player. There’s little doubt that the A’s plan to use him quite a bit as they’ve turned down any inquiries about him since acquiring him the Jeff Samardzija trade.

As for Eric Sogard, the incumbent second baseman, he’s likely to provide depth behind Zobrist or perhaps be sent down to Triple-A Nashville so that he can keep getting regular at-bats.  The really interesting thing about the A’s lineup next year is that they have enough depth to run out an entire right-handed lineup one game and then a left-handed one the next game. Zobrist is a switch-hitter and Escobar is right-handed. That potentially presents a lot of matchup problems for other teams.

Zobrist will be a free agent after this season and is set to make $7.5 million. Escobar has a $5 million salary this year and then $7 million in 2016. He also has a club option for $7 million in 2017 with a $1 million buyout.

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