Chicago White Sox: 3 trade packages for Eduardo Escobar
The Chicago White Sox could use Eduardo Escobar’s services. The team has been riddled with injuries and the offense is struggling to regain the power they displayed a year before. Escobar could be just what the doctor ordered for the White Sox, a power-hitting infielder with versatility.
The Chicago White Sox could be in on Eduardo Escobar on the trade market.
Bob Nightengale reported earlier this week that the White Sox were looking for a replacement for the injured Nick Madrigal, and were engaged in talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The infielder donned the White Sox black and white jersey nearly a decade ago before being shipped off to Minnesota in a trade for Francisco Liriano.
Since leaving the White Sox, he became a thorn in their side with the Minnesota Twins. He left for the desert in 2018 when he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Over his last four seasons there, he owns a slash line of .254/.307/.462. In 2019 he had a career year, leading the NL with 10 triples and hitting a career-high 35 home runs. He also put up a .831 OPS.
However, in the 2020 season, Escobar’s production dropped. It has carried over to this season as he is hitting just .240 with a .288 on-base percentage. He also owns the lowest walk rate of his career. Despite the drop in average, his power numbers are still there. Escobar has 15 home runs this season in 70 games.
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
Another thing to factor in the equation is Escobar’s injuries this season. He left a game on Monday night because of a quad strain. The Diamondbacks have been monitoring the injury but say he is still good enough to play. Do the White Sox risk replacing one injured second baseman another one?
The Diamondbacks are going to be sellers at the deadline. They own a horrendous 23-game losing streak in road games. They have the worst record in baseball and are 26 games out of first place. Escobar is set to hit free agency after the season and is unlikely to resign. The Diamondbacks want to get some assets in return for him. Given that he is in the final year of his deal and the Diamondbacks don’t have a ton of leverage, it should not cost that much for the White Sox to acquire him.
Escobar is not a high-impact player but he would be a nice piece for the White Sox lineup for the rest of the season. Escobar checks all the boxes the White Sox need. He provides outfield depth, second base depth, a left-handed bat, and power. With this in mind, what would it take to pry Escobar from the Diamondbacks?
Luis Gonzalez has been a good player for the Chicago White Sox organization.
Luis Gonzalez is the No. 10 ranked prospect in the organization according to MLB.com. He just recorded his first major league hit for the White Sox on June 23rd. Gonzalez is a left-handed bat that possesses above-average speed. He has the tools to be a solid MLB player but struggled in Triple-A this season hitting just .197. The only reason the White Sox called him up was due to the White Sox outfielders dropping like flies. With the outfield ranks thin, Gonzalez got the call.
Replacing Gonzalez with Escobar would give the White Sox an established major leaguer. It is also a massive upgrade in power. Gonzalez is a very pull happy hitter. In the minor leagues, he tried to show off his power and his aggressive approach did not end with good results. Scouts grade Gonzalez’s power as average at best and he is better when he is trying to hit line drives.
Escobar would be able to fill the hole in right field until Adam Engel, Adam Eaton, or Billy Hamilton are healthy enough to return. Then, he would be able to take over at second base. The Diamondbacks would be getting a major league-ready player with some tools and upside, which is worth it considering they only have a few months remaining on Escobar’s deal.
Luis Mieses and McKinley Moore might both be Chicago White Sox trade chips.
Luis Mieses is the No. 30 ranked prospect in the White Sox farm system. He doesn’t project to arrive at the Major Leagues until 2024 so the White Sox do not have a ton of use for him especially with Yoelqui Cespedes, Micker Adolfo, Blake Rutherford, and others ranked ahead of him.
Mieses has good arm strength and power. He primarily plays the corner outfield positions and logged 23 assists in 157 games over the course of his first three professional seasons. He is also a left-handed bat with a sturdy 6’3 180-pound frame, which may make him intriguing to the Diamondbacks.
McKinley Moore is a power pitcher that throws hard. His fastball touches 98 miles per hour. That is the reason the White Sox drafted him out of Arkansas-Little Rock. However, he struggles to throw strikes. He walked 64 batters in just 48 2/3 innings in college. Moore has the potential to be a hard-throwing reliever for a big-league club but will need to harness his fastball location before he can climb the minor league ranks.
Neither players project to be All-Star caliber players but it may be worth the lottery ticket for the Diamondbacks in a trade package.
DJ Gladney and cash are something that could get the Chicago White Sox their guy.
Dj Gladney is the third baseman for the White Sox Single-A affiliate Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. He was selected 470th overall in the 2019 MLB draft. Gladney is only 19 years old so he has a long way to go before reaching the show.
During his pro debut, he hit eight home runs in 50 at-bats in the Rookie-level Arizona League. It is clear that Gladney has some raw power, something the Diamondbacks may be interested in. The 37 percent strikeout rate is one of the reason’s he is just the No. 17 prospect in the White Sox farm system according to MLB.com.
The strikeouts are something he will need to cut down on but he was unable to develop during the 2020 pandemic stricken season, Coming out of high school, it is expected that his pitch recognition is not at a high level.
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He was drafted as a third baseman but scouts think as he matures he will be moved to left field or first base due to his lack of range. Because of his young age and uncertainty, the White Sox may have to throw in some cash into the deal to sweeten the pot for the Diamondbacks.