Arizona Diamondbacks Trade Eduardo Escobar to Brewers

First Trade Deadline Shocker for the Arizona Diamondbacks: Eduardo Escobar traded to the Milwaukee Brewers!

We knew it was coming folks. We knew Escobar was going to be traded. That smile of his will be missed dearly along with his immense fear of cats, his “fogo power” schtick, and his infectious positive personality. I was wrong on where I thought he would end up. I thought it would be the White Sox but instead it’s the Milwaukee Brewers. As Escobar is a free agent at the end of this season, the chances he would’ve finished the year in Arizona were slim to none, especially after the start the Arizona Diamondbacks had.

I am choosing to be like Eduardo Escobar right now and remain positive. He is going to a team in first in the NL Central and gets to be a main player competing for the Playoffs. The Brewers should make the Playoffs and Escobar will get a taste of the Playoffs once more. He deserves that after everything he has done for the Valley. He has been one of the most gracious and charitable players for the Diamondbacks the last few years. Escobar just made the ALL-STAR Game for the first time in his long career a few weeks ago. He was the Arizona Diamondbacks lone representative.

Eduardo originally got to Arizona via a trade deadline of his own going from the Twins to the Arizona Diamondbacks. It has been nearly 3 years to the day that the D-backs originally acquired him.

Eduardo Escobar Details

Escobar is hitting .246, .300, .478, .778 OPS ( FYI, in order of numbers, Batting average, On-Base %, and Slugging %). He has an OPS of 107 (100 is league average). He has 22 home runs, 65 RBI’s, and 2.1 in WAR. His ISO (slugging minus batting average) is .232, easily the highest of his career. He can play any position on the infield. However, it appears the Brewers will be installing Escobar in at 3B for the rest of the season. The Brewers have been struggling to get 3B covered all year. Two players have played 40+ games at that spot with not much success. This is a huge get for the BrewCrew who now have an All-Star 3B. The Brewers are absorbing the rest of Escobar’s contract with no cash heading their way. They have a switch-hitting power hitter who doesn’t strike out often. He can do a lot of damage at American Family Field.

What the Arizona Diamondbacks got in return:

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Catcher/1B/OF Cooper Hummel and Inf Alberto Ciprian. Neither were ranked in the top-30 prospects for the Brewers. Cooper Hummel plays in the same vein of current D-backs player Daulton Varsho, thanks David Hill from FanSided. Cooper no longer classifies as a prospect as he is over the 25-yr old threshold. He’s 26. Cooper is in Triple-AAA and near MLB ready. He has hit .254, .435, .508. He has 6 home runs and 15 RBIs. He has a patient approach at the plate as he has 41 walks to 26 Strikeouts. He is a great defender as well.

Alberto Ciprian is  an infielder, mainly 3B, in the Dominican Rookie league. He is 18 and this is his first year in professional ball. He has .378, .465, .514 in 12 games so far. He has good power, already hitting the ball to the gaps although his swing is a bit erratic. He has a good eye at the plate and a good arm for 3B. He needs to improve his defensive positioning though. He is the centerpiece of the return for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He could develop into a high quality regular in the MLB and has a lot of potential. We won’t know for a while the official grade of the trade. This trade will take a long time to grade but don’t be surprised if Cooper is in the MLB soon.

This is the first of what should be a good number of trade deadline posts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Stay tuned, I’ll keep you updated on every trade.

Til next time Venom fans,

and Eduardo Escobar,

May the Force be with You De La Pica…

#Fogopower

Eduardo Escobar has some words for all Arizona Diamondbacks Fans: