After being swept by the Houston Astros, it is clear that the Chicago White Sox needs help. It looks like Rick Hahn and the front office are interested in upgrading at second base. Bob Nightengale reported that the White Sox are looking for a replacement for the injured Nick Madrigal and are engaged in trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Eduardo Escobar.
The Chicago White Sox are looking for someone to be the new second baseman.
The Diamondbacks are in the middle of a historic losing streak. They have lost 17 games in a row and set a record for consecutive road losses with 23. The Diamondbacks will be obvious sellers at the trade deadline and have already begun shopping Eduardo Escobar. Meanwhile, the White Sox should be buying at the deadline making the two teams perfect trade partners.
Escobar is earning $7.5 million in the final year of his contract. He is hitting .240 this year with 15 homers, 45 RBIs, and a .743 OPS. He is intriguing for the White Sox because he can play multiple positions including second base, shortstop, and third base.
He has even spent some time in the outfield, playing 43 games in left field, one in right field, and one in center field. The Diamondbacks have used him primarily at third base but he has logged enough time at second base to make the White Sox feel comfortable with his defense there.
The Chicago #WhiteSox, looking for a replacement for 2B Nick Madrigal, are engaged in trade talks with the #Dbacks for Eduardo Escobar, who's being shopped. Escobar, who's earning $7.5M in the final year of his contract, is hitting .240 with 15 homers, 45 RBI with a .743 OPS.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 21, 2021
Escobar can also provide the White Sox with some power from the second base position. His 15 home runs rank 10th in the National League. In 2019, he hit 35 home runs and led the National League with 10 triples. He ranks sixth in the NL this season in RBIs and finished fourth in 2019 with 118. He had a rough 2020 campaign but has bounced back this season thanks to his power. His 100 wRC+, 100 OPS+, and .455 slugging percentage put him around the league average for hitters.
Escobar is a serviceable stopgap for one year while the White Sox waits for Nick Madrigal to return next season. The 11-year veteran began his career with the White Sox in 2011. He was traded to the Twins in 2012 for Fransisco Liriano and became a thorn in the side of the White Sox for years to come in the Twins lineup.
Because Escobar only has one year remaining on his contract, the White Sox would not have to give up that much to acquire him. He would stabilize the position at second base which is currently being held down by Danny Mendick and Leury Garcia. With all the injuries to the White Sox outfield, Escobar would allow the White Sox to put Garcia in the outfield and reduce Mendick to a role on the bench that he is better suited for.