The Chicago White Sox are in desperation mode in finding a second baseman to replace the injured Nick Madrigal. Will they give in to a high asking price?
The Sox had already been linked to Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier, with the Bucs reportedly asking for top prospect capital in return.
So, Rick Hahn and Co. turned to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a second baseman in the final year of his contract in Eduardo Escobar. In most cases, a rental would be far cheaper, and perhaps a better candidate to be traded well before the July 31 deadline.
2021 isn’t most years, and the Diamondbacks fully understand the White Sox predicament. GM Mike Hazen plans on using that desperation against them.
MLB trade rumors: Chicago White Sox in on Eduardo Escobar
On the Mully and Haw show Monday morning, Heyman made it clear the White Sox and D’Backs are in the trenches.
“They obviously have been talking,” Heyman said. “They are asking for a lot. My understanding is the names (Jake) Burger and (Zack) Collins have come up. I think they’re probably off the table. They’ve probably moved on to others. But I think they sense that the White Sox are a little bit desperate. In the last nine games, they’ve scored 27 runs. That’s not great. Obviously, their (division) lead has slipped a bit. They’ve been decimated by injuries, particularly in the outfield but certainly with Madrigal out for the year, they could use an infielder. I think Arizona probably smells blood in the water.”
Madrigal recently underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Prior to the injury, he was hitting .305 in 200 at-bats.
Escobar would mark a solid replacement, even if just for a few months. FanSided’s Robert Murray laid out how Escobar would fit as a trade option in Chicago:
“He mashes left-handed pitching and plays solid defense at second base and is viewed as a strong fit to replace Nick Madrigal, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his right hamstring. Escobar will earn roughly $3.5 million the rest of the season, which would leave the White Sox with more than enough room to upgrade other parts of the roster.”
The South Siders are in a rush to add a player of Escobar’s caliber, but the Diamondbacks don’t mind waiting for a team to match their price tag. Hahn is in no position to barter.