When the Tampa Bay Rays signed shortstop/second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera in late December, it was speculated the team's infield would be making some changes. The guessing game is now over after Tampa Bay made a trade with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
The Rays are sending second baseman Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar to the A's in exchange for catcher John Jaso and two minor leaguers, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. This move could also shake up Oakland's infield, since they acquired infielder Marcus Semien from the Chicago White Sox earlier this offseason.
General manager Billy Beane made it known earlier in the offseason that the team could have some "unfinished business" to settle at the second base position, and it appears they've addressed that need, although it's unclear how Zobrist will be used since he can also play shortstop and all outfield positions. Semien has played most of his games at third base (50) and second base (29) with the White Sox, so it's possible he gets moved to second while Escobar takes over at short and Zobrist is put somewhere in the outfield.
Oakland sent Jaso (.264 average with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 99 games) as well as prospects Daniel Robertson and Boog Powell to Tampa Bay. Robertson was the A's top shortstop prospect (after they traded Addison Russell to the Chicago Cubs in July) and Boog Powell is an outfielder. Roberston slashed .310/.402/.471 with 110 runs scored, 15 home runs and 60 RBIs in 132 games at Advanced Class-A Stockton in 2014. Powell split this past season between Class-A Beloit and Advanced Class-A Stockton, but was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for amphetamine. The soon-to-be 22-year-old slashed .343/.451/.435 with 54 runs scored, three home runs, 28 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 83 games.
With the departures of Zobrist and Escobar, it looks like Tampa Bay will use Cabrera at shortstop and Nick Franklin - who they received from the Seattle Mariners at the trade deadline this past season - at second base. Team owner Stuart Sternberg said they were looking to reduce payroll, and they indeed did by shedding Zobrist's $7.5 million salary for 2015 and the remaining two years and $13 million left on Escobar's contract.
Earlier this week it was said the Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs were pursuing Zobrist, but the Athletics swept in late and likely gave the Rays an offer they couldn't refuse.
