Brewers acquire Eduardo Escobar from Diamondbacks

The Brewers are acquiring All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Diamondbacks in exchange for prospects Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian, as the teams announced on Wednesday night:

After struggling significantly during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the 32-year-old Escobar has bounced back this year and has a .246/.300/.478 slash line with 22 homers and 65 RBI. The Diamondbacks’ lone All-Star representative has been on a bit of a cold streak since the break, hitting .179/.289/.436, so the Brewers will hope that’s just a blip on the radar and not cause for serious concern. He’s a free agent after the season and is making $7.5 million in 2021, so there’s not a whole lot of risk if the deal doesn’t work out.

While the Brewers are expected to use Escobar all over the infield, including at first base (the only position he’s never played in the majors), he’ll seemingly be their starting third baseman more often than not. That means Luís Urías will be displaced from his position for the second time this season, as he was bumped to third base after the team acquired Willy Adames from the Rays in May. Urías, who has a .237/.333/.416 slash line this season, can fill in at third, short, and second as needed.

Hummel, a 26-year-old switch-hitting outfielder, is having an impressive season at Triple-A Nashville, hitting .254/.435/.508 with six homers and significantly more walks (41) than strikeouts (26). Ciprian, 18, is off to a stellar start in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .378/.465/.514 over his first 43 professional plate appearances.