Twins’ Re-up with a Clubhouse Favorite, Eduardo Escobar

Minnesota shortstop Eduardo Escobar makes the backhanded grab of a Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit to start the force out at first in the first inning of Tuesday's game at Target Field, May 13, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

Minnesota shortstop Eduardo Escobar makes the backhanded grab of a Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit to start the force out at first in the first inning of Tuesday’s game at Target Field, May 13, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)



At least for this upcoming season, Eduardo Escobar will be playing baseball in Minnesota. Per Thursday’s reports, he and the Twins agreed to a one year, $4.85 million deal.

The signing came a day prior to the MLB’s arbitration deadline. Missing Friday’s cut off means that any remaining arbitration-eligible players and their team need to exchange proposed salaries for the 2018 season. The purpose of swapping desired contracts is to prepare for a potential hearing on what a player should be paid.

The January 12th time-limit is now irrelevant to Escobar. One of the Twins’ clubhouse favorites and his employer hashed things out without a third wheel. With the 29 year-old now set to make almost $5 million this year, the only thing he should be exchanging are chips at the Bellagio.

In what I consider no coincidence, they reached an agreement amid the MLB’s sexual assault investigation of Miguel Sano. With his upcoming availability in great flux, motivation to retain Escobar naturally increased.

This upcoming season will mark the switch hitter’s 8th in the majors. Of his 619 career MLB games, our infield’s Renaissance man has played 574 of them with Minnesota. In 2017, Escobar hit .254, with a career high .758 OPS. Over last year’s 499 at-bats, he also compiled a career high in HRs (21) and RBIs (73)

Minnesota Twins third baseman Eduardo Escobar (5) put conditioning coach Perry Castellano in a head lock as they joked around before the start of Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros. ] AARON LAVINSKY • [email protected]
The Minnesota Twins played the Houston Astros on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn.

With Eduardo Escobar secured for what Twins’ Nation hopes is another exciting season, the following five players still remain arbitration-eligible: Robbie Grossman (OF), Ehire Adrianza (IF) and pitchers Kyle Gibson, Ryan Pressly, and Trevor May.

Relax fanboys and fangirls of Ryan Pressly. I like your passion, but damn. If Pressly and MN don’t agree to a deal by Friday’s deadline, they’ll still probably end up agreeing to one and avoid any hearings. Until actually sitting in front of arbitrators, the two involved parties can continue negotiations.

Cowboys? What the f*ck?

That’s a real hard deadline you have their, MLB. What a joke. I always wondered where my WI Public University professors got their contradictory approach to cutoff dates from.

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

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