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Angels acquire Eduardo Escobar from Mets for infield depth

June 24, 2023

DENVER — Moving to shore up their roster after a wave of injuries, the Angels acquired veteran infielder Eduardo Escobar and cash considerations from the New York Mets on Friday in return for minor league pitchers Landon Marceaux and Coleman Crow.

The Angels made roster room for Escobar by transferring infielder Gio Urshela to the 60-day injured list from the 10-day IL. Urshela is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a left pelvis fracture last week in Texas.

Just a day before Urshela’s injury, rookie shortstop Zach Neto was placed on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain. On Monday, third baseman Anthony Rendon went on the 10-day IL with a left wrist contusion.

Escobar, a 34-year-old switch-hitter, has spent 13 years in the majors, the last two with the Mets. He was a National League All-Star in 2021. In 40 games with the Mets this season, he has appeared defensively 29 times at third base and nine times at second base. He’s batting .236 with four home runs and 16 RBIs.

A .254/.307/.435 hitter for his career, Escobar can play third base, second base and even shortstop, if needed.

The Mets will reportedly pay all but the pro-rated league minimum of Escobar’s salary, which calls for $9.5 million in what will likely be the final year of his deal. Escobar’s contract has a $9 million club option for 2024.

Crow and Marceaux, right-handers who had both matriculated to Double-A Rocket City this season, were ranked 19th and 20th in the Angels’ minor league system, respectively, by MLB.com.

Crow, 22, is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his first four starts but hasn’t pitched in a game since late April. He has 31 strikeouts in 24 innings. In three minor league seasons, he is 15-6 with a 4.33 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 41 games (37 starts, 214⅓ innings).

Marceaux, 23, has played in 12 games (all starts) this season, going 3-6 with a 4.88 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 59 innings. For his career, he is 7-13 with a 3.99 ERA across parts of three minor league seasons.

MOORE OPTIMISM

Left-handed reliever Matt Moore, sidelined since late May with a right oblique strain, is scheduled to throw a simulated game Saturday and if all goes well, he could be reinstated from the 15-day IL as early as next week.

“We’re going to make it quick, just make sure he feels good and re-evaluate it after that step,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said before Friday’s game. “But things are looking really positive.”

Nevin said there is a chance that Moore could be reinstated sometime during next week’s four-game home series against the Chicago White Sox.

“Obviously, he has to come out of this feeling good but his bullpen sessions have been very aggressive,” Nevin said. “We like where his numbers are velocity-wise and feel good about getting through tomorrow comfortably.”

In addition, Nevin said the off-day Thursday had benefited Rendon, who has been dealing with a left wrist contusion.

“I think yesterday staying off it and leaving it alone, he feels a lot better,” Nevin said. “He’s going to try to go through as much as he can. Basically, each day he’s got to feel better and better. … He feels a lot better today, but what that means, I don’t know.”

ROOM TO ROAM

Mike Trout likes batting in hitter-friendly Coors Field but he also embraces the defensive challenges posed by its expansive outfield.

“When you’re out there, you’ve got to run some stuff down,” the Angels center fielder said. “It’s fun to be able to go out there and be free out there.”

Aside from perhaps playing a few steps deeper in the field, Trout said there are really no other differences in his defensive approach to Coors Field.

“We’re not going to change anything,” he said.