Yunel Escobar's time with the Athletics didn't last long. Oakland acquired the infielder from the Rays in the Ben Zobrist trade last weekend, and, on Wednesday, the A's flipped Escobar to the Nationals according to our own Jon Heyman. Tyler Clippard is heading to Oakland in the deal.
Escobar will presumably step in to play second base for Washington, a position he hasn't played since his rookie year in 2007. The Nats aren't shy about putting a shortstop at second though -- they traded for Asdrubal Cabrera at the deadline and put him at second, a position he hadn't played since 2009.
Before Cabrera arrived at the end of July, the Nationals were getting some of the worst second base production in the game, at least once Anthony Rendon moved to third base full-time. Danny Espinosa had a 74 OPS+ and Kevin Frandsen also saw time at the position. The time between Rendon and Cabrera wasn't pretty.
Escobar, who had a 92 OPS+ himself last year, will be an upgrade over Espinosa offensively even if he continues slipping a bit, but the most interesting aspect of this trade is how it helps the Nationals at one position now and another down the line.
Thanks to the extension he signed with the Rays not too long ago, Yunel will earn $5 million in 2015 and $7 million in 2016 with a $7 million club option for 2017. He's a multiyear addition, and it just so happens incumbent shortstop Ian Desmond is due to hit free agent next offseason.
Desmond is one of the best shortstops in the game and he's headed for a nine-figure payday as a free agent, which the Nationals may not want to pay him/be able to afford. In fact, Desmond's name has popped up in trade rumors this offseason, and Escobar's presence makes it a lot easier to trade him.
Either way, traded now or as a free agent later, Desmond seems likely to leave the Nationals at some point before the 2016 season. Escobar can step in and play second base alongside Desmond right now, then replace him at shortstop either a midseason (if traded) or next year (if he leaves as a free agent).
The Nationals acquired their shortstop of the future earlier this offseason when they landed Trea Turner from the Padres in the Wil Myers three-team deal, but Turner is unlikely to be MLB ready come Opening Day 2016. Escobar buys the team some time and allows them to be patient with their top shortstop prospect.
As of right now, Washington killed two birds with one stone. They found a much-needed second baseman for 2015 and a stopgap shortstop to bridge Desmond and Turner, whenever that bridge may be needed.
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