RADIO
It’s been a busy offseason for Oakland general manager Billy Beane, seeking to rectify his club after a monumental collapse in 2014. He continued that trend by making a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
In a five-player trade, the Athletics acquired two-time All-Star Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar in exchange for catcher John Jaso and minor league prospects Boog Powell and Daniel Robertson. The A’s threw in some cash as well.
Zobrist has been in the big leagues for nine years, spending each campaign in Tampa Bay, and gives the Athletics a solid bat and versatile glove capable of handling multiple positions in the infield and outfield. He’s coming off a season in which he hit .272 with 10 HR and 52 RBI, and will be entering the final year of his contract before becoming a free agent. Perhaps most important upon his arrival is the fact that he will be providing a massive upgrade at second base over previous starter Eric Sogard.
Escobar has played for three teams over his seven-year career, while registering a career .276 batting average, and will be replacing the departed Jed Lowrie, who bolted for the Houston Astros, as the club’s everyday shortstop.
The Rays, meanwhile, appear to be in a transitional stage, and add some promising youth to their future with this transaction. In fact, the two youngsters they added were two of Oakland’s top 11 prospects, according to MLB.com, while the addition of Jaso potentially gives Tampa Bay a new starting catcher, as well as someone capable of handling first base and some outfield. Interestingly, Jaso began his career with the Rays and played a role in helping propel them to the playoffs in 2010 and 2011.
