Eduardo Escobar

Now almost exclusively a third baseman, the offensive bar for Escobar to clear is higher than ever. That's not exactly good news for a player heading into his age-32 season coming off his worst campaign in nearly a decade. After a pair of years as a solidly above-average hitter, Escobar saw his numbers collapse last year, hitting .212/.270/.335 with just four homers in 54 games. There's some silver lining here, though, in that his underlying numbers were largely unchanged. His 18.5 K% and 6.2 BB% were both near matches for his marks from 2019, while his 88.6 mph exit velocity was a personal best. That's not to say Statcast loved his performance, but a .263 xBA and .395 xSLG are at least better than his actual numbers. Bouncing back to that range wouldn't be enough to make him a particularly interesting fantasy option, though, and it's not clear how much of a bounceback should be expected at his age.

Escobar didn't play an inning at shortstop for the first time in his career. However, he's gained second-base eligibility (the first time he's ever had it entering a full season), and second base has been thinned out, making Escobar arguably the most appealing he's ever been. His .269 batting average in 2019 was right in line with his .272 mark from the season prior, but he really broke out in the power department, where his 35 homers smashed his previous career high (23). There are reasons aplenty to suspect he overachieved in that category. His 31.5% hard-hit rate, while a personal Statcast-era best, trailed the league-wide average by three points. We all know about the 2019 baseball, and a player like Escobar who doesn't have much of a track record as a power hitter is tough to project in that department for 2020. Even if we use 2017-18 as our baseline, that's still a nice get outside the top 100.

Escobar, who was dealt from Minnesota to Arizona in a midseason trade, inked a three-year, $21 million extension with the Diamondbacks in October just days before he was set to hit the open market for the first time. Despite a productive 2017 season, Escobar again entered last year as a utility player. He quickly moved into the starting lineup amid suspensions and injuries, getting steady time at shortstop (-2.2 UZR) and third base (1.5 UZR). Escobar showed his improving power in 2017 was legitimate, and was among the AL leaders in doubles at the time of his trade. He declined slightly in the NL with a .771 OPS (from .852 in MIN) but still hit eight home runs in 54 games. Escobar registered career bests in walk rate (8.2%) and hard-hit rate (38.2%). He will enter his age-30 season qualifying in many formats at third base and shortstop (21 games), and could also get starts this year at second base on a roster that is very much in flux.

Escobar began the season as a utility player but got more playing time at shortstop amid Jorge Polanco's first-half struggles and then played third base most of the final two months after Miguel Sano went down with a shin injury. He entered 2017 with 27 home runs in 1,620 plate appearances, but hit 21 home runs in 499 plate appearances last season. After posting flyball rates below 39 percent in each previous season, he lofted the ball more (45.3 percent flyball rate last year). His 12.8 percent HR/FB more than doubled his 5.7 percent mark from 2016 and topped his previous career high of 9.5 percent. As long as he keeps hitting the ball in the air, some of those power gains should remain. He is a career .253 hitter (he hit .254 last year) and offers little speed for fantasy purposes. Escobar doesn't have ideal range for shortstop but should be above average at third base or second base. He could begin the season as Minnesota's starting third baseman if Sano is moved to DH.

Escobar entered last season as Minnesota's starting shortstop, but lost the job in May when he landed on the DL with a hamstring injury. Eduardo Nunez got hot at the plate and kept Escobar on the bench when he returned. After Nunez was traded in July, Escobar briefly got his starting job back, but struggled at the plate and then was benched again in favor of Jorge Polanco. Escobar ended up getting most of his playing time the final month of the season at third base with several other third basemen hurt. Escobar saw a decrease in power with a 107-point drop in slugging as he hit just six home runs after smacking 12 in 2015. His glove also took a step back with a -6.1 UZR at shortstop. Escobar can play three positions and the outfield in a pinch, and his prior two seasons show he has some power, so he'll add value as a utility player. His upside is limited since he doesn't draw walks (5.6 percent walk rate) and he offers almost no stolen-base potential.

After his 2014 breakout season, Escobar was surprisingly moved to a utility role in favor of Danny Santana at shortstop. However, it wasn't long until Escobar reclaimed the starting job with Santana struggling in the first half of the season and getting sent to the minors. Escobar had shown little at the plate in his career with a .587 OPS in the majors and just a .675 OPS in the minors before 2014, but he showed his breakout season wasn't a fluke as he had 12 home runs and 31 doubles last year. Entering his age-27 season, Escobar could continue to improve his power numbers. He doesn't draw walks (4.7% walk rate), however, so his batting average could be a risk, and he offers almost no stolen-base potential. His glove plays well enough at shortstop (2.6 UZR) that Minnesota would be justified in making him their starter. His power and position flexibility will make him a fantasy consideration in deeper leagues even if he's moved back to a utility role.

Escobar had a surprising breakout season in 2014 and took over the everyday shortstop job for the Twins, but his position for 2015 is unclear. He had shown little at the plate in his career with a .587 OPS in the majors before last year and a just a .675 OPS in the minors. But given a shot at the starting shortstop job in May, Escobar responded by hitting .275/.315/.406 and showing league average defense at shortstop. He didn't add much else for fantasy purposes as he had just six home runs and one stolen base. It's possible he could move to third base in 2015 as the Twins have talked about moving Danny Santana from center field to shortstop. While he'll likely begin the season with a starting job, he may not be able to duplicate his success at the plate given his career track record, a weak walk rate (5.2%) and a .338 BABIP. Perhaps he's finally figured out a successful approach at the plate in the majors, but there looks to be more downside than upside even as he hits his prime at age-26.

Escobar won a utility job with the Twins last year and stayed on the roster all season due to his ability to play multiple positions. However, his anemic bat never let him take advantage of opportunities to win more playing time. He faces an uphill battle to win a job in the majors in 2014 as he doesn't draw walks, has little power and even his glove wasn't impressive (-3.9 fWAR in fielding and negative UZR numbers at every position). It's hard to see him offering much fantasy value if he somehow wins regular at-bats.

Escobar was traded to Minnesota from the White Sox for Francisco Liriano in July as the Twins looked for options in an unsettled infield. He has proven to be a competent glove at the major league level, but it is not clear if he can hit enough for even a utility role. He has no power which is not offset by mediocre contact and walk rates. Although he is had some decent stolen-base totals in the minors, he has been caught too many times to think he will have that in his repertoire if he finds regular time in the majors. He will enter spring with a shot at utility job, but may spend most of the season at Triple-A.

Escobar barely eked out a .300 OBP in 2011, which was his first campaign at Triple-A Charlotte. He has stolen double-digit bags in each of the last three seasons, but his success rate on the basepaths is a modest 63.6 percent for his minor league career. His Triple-A struggles aside, Escobar's glove looked MLB-ready in brief September action, so he could be the first guy the club turns to should something happen to Alexei Ramirez. Still, it will probably be another year or two before the club considers him for an everyday job.

Escobar earned a spot on the 40-man roster after a surprising showing in the 2010 Arizona Fall League. Right now he profiles as a glove-first, bat-second type of shortstop, but the bat should have plenty of time to develop in the minors as the White Sox have no need to rush him to the majors.