Eduardo Escobar of the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 26, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that they signed Venezuelan infielder Eduardo Escobar to a minor league contract, which includes an invite to their Major League camp.
Escobar, 35, was born in La PIca, Venezuela, and has played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox from 2011-12, the Minnesota Twins from 2012-18, the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2018-21, the Milwaukee Brewers from 2021, the New York Mets from 2022-23, and the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.
Escobar elected for free agency on November 6 prior to him signing with Toronto.
The Blue Jays have not announced how much Escobar will earn if he makes the opening day roster.
Last season, Escobar started out with the Mets and played in 40 games, batting .236 with 26 hits, three doubles, two triples, eight walks, and 24 strikeouts before he was traded on June 24, 2023 to Anaheim with cash considerations in exchange for right-handed pitchers Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux.
With the Angels, the switch-hitter hit .219 in 60 games with 39 hits, three triples, three doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI, 10 walks, 54 strikeouts, and a .563 OPS.
Escobar played with the Venezuelan national team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic in three games at Pool D in loanDepot Park in Miami. Escobar had 10 at-bats, batting .100, scoring one run, recording one home run, and struck out three times.
During the 2022-23 Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional regular season, Escobar played in 10 games with the Tigres de Aragua and batted .361 with 13 hits, five doubles, one home run, six RBI, five walks, and six strikeouts.
In 2022, Escobar played in 136 games with the Mets and hit .240 in 542 plate appearances, smacking 119 hits, 26 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, 69 RBI, 40 walks, 129 strikeouts, and a .726 OPS.
Escobar was selected to his only All-Star Game in 2021, a season he split between the Diamondbacks and Brewers. He was traded to Milwaukee on July 28, 2021 in exchange for catcher Cooper Hummel and second baseman Alberto Ciprian.
Between Milwaukee and Arizona, Escobar played in 146 games, batting .253 with 599 plate appearances and 139 hits, 26 doubles, five triples, 28 home runs, 90 RBI, 48 walks, 124 strikeouts, and a .786 OPS.
Escobar also led the National League in triples with 10 during the 2019 season in Arizona.
During his 13 seasons in MLB, Escobar has a career average of .253 in 1,364 games with 1,185 hits, 247 doubles, 46 triples, 164 home runs, 636 RBI, 23 stolen bases, 351 walks, 1,043 strikeouts, and a .735 OPS.
Escobar will compete for a back-up infield role at second base, shortstop and third base with Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, Justin Turner, and Santiago Espinal.
The Blue Jays will play the Philadelphia Phillies in their first spring training game at home on Feb. 24 at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla. at 1:07 p.m. EST.