March 15, 2012

Prime Lockup

The Royals signed Alcides Escobar through 2015.

Escobar will receive $1 million for 2012, and $3 million a year for ’13, ’14 and ’15. The team options for ’16 and ’17 are $5.25 million and $6.5 million, respectively. Both have a $500,000 buyout clause.

Escobar, 25, played 158 games at shortstop in his first season with Kansas City last year, hitting .254 with four homers and 46 RBIs. On top of a career-best 26 steals, Escobar led all Major League shortstops in both defensive assists (459) and putouts (271) while committing just 15 errors on 745 total chances.

Escobar is a poor hitter but makes up for that with his defense. This deal gives the Royals someone to eat ground balls, and at 25, possibly improve a bit with the bat. The Royals will keep him through the prime of his career, and I would not be surprised if the options are not exercised. They have four seasons to develop a shortstop who can also hit.

Clubs like Kansas City can’t afford a star at every position, so they are going with a terrific glove at short at a great price. Fewer runs allowed means they can with with a little less offense.

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