Angels Free Agent Infielder Signs With AL East Team

He spent 59 games with the Angels.

Former Los Angeles Angels third baseman Eduardo Escobar signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal was announced Friday.

OFFICIAL: We’ve signed INF Eduardo Escobar to a Minor League deal with an invite to Major League #SpringTraining. pic.twitter.com/RbUOwEg38J

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 16, 2024

The 35-year-old was traded to the Angels from the New York Mets for two minor league pitchers on June 24. 

Escobar had high expectations after signing a two-year, $20 million contract with the Mets after slugging 20 homers and driving in 69 RBIs over 139 games in 2022. He fell shy of the expectations and had just six homers and 31 RBIs in 99 games combined in 2023.

In 2021, Escobar was an All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks, launching 28 home runs and recording 90 RBIs while batting .253. 

Escobar has primarily been a third baseman but could see some time at second. He will be joining big league camp.

“Excited to see him. Obviously he's had a great, long major-league career and he's in here competing with a lot of other guys for that infield utility role. We'll see how it shakes out, how he's moving around and things like that. But, I'm excited to add him to the fold, for sure.”

John Schneider via Sportsnet

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added this about Escobar: “Competition is a good thing. Giving him a shot and see how he looks.”