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Eduardo Escobar might be headed back to the South Side before the 2021 MLB trade deadline, according to reports.
On Monday morning, Jon Heyman, an MLB Network Insider, tweeted that there was some progress between the White Sox and the Diamondbacks on a deal for veteran infielder Eduardo Escobar. The Sox are in the market for help at second base after Nick Madrigal tore his hamstring earlier this month.
The infielder played for the White Sox from 2011-2012 during the first two years of his MLB career. Since then he’s been dealt to the Minnesota Twins, where he spent parts of six seasons until he was shipped to the Diamondbacks in 2018.
If acquired before the July 30 trade deadline, Escobar will bring a versatile glove and a solid bat to the White Sox to replace Madrigal. This season he’s hitting just above .250 with 52 RBIs and 17 home runs. While he has more power than Madrigal, who had just two home runs this season before the injury, he gets on base far less. Escobar’s OBP is .298 this year, while Madrigal’s was near .350.
While not as productive as the injured second baseman, Escobar would be a consistent performer for a team that needs answers on the right side of the infield.