The Oakland Athletics are in a dogfight for the AL West and they have made a trade for some support by acquiring Geovany Soto from the Rangers and the team also may work out a trade for Yunel Escobar with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the MLB waiver trade deadline at the end of the month leading into the playoffs.
According to Hardball Talk, the Athletics have traded for Soto from the Rangers for cash considerations, while the team has also claimed Escobar on revocable waivers, meaning the two sides have until Tuesday to work out a trade. The Athletics picked up Soto despite having Derek Norris, John Jaso, and Stephen Vogt on the roster, but Vogt has been dealing with in injury and Jaso often works at the DH, so there is room for another catcher to get some playing time along with Derrick Norris.
Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports is reporting that the Athletics are looking at a potential trade for Escobar, as they need some shortstop support after losing Jed Lowrie to a hand injury. The Rays can afford to trade Escobar if they want, as they have Nick Franklin waiting in the wings after the David Price trade. Franklin is almost surely getting a call up come September once the rosters expand, as he has plenty of big league experience already and while he has been off to a slow start since the trade, the Rays are eager to get him to the big league level.
The Rays and Athletics have a deadline at 1 pm ET on Tuesday to work out a deal and he can be pulled back if the two sides can't figure out a trade. Escobar hasn't been great this season, but he is an upgrade over what the A's have been using and he is hitting just under .250 and has a plus glove and he also has a reasonable salary at $5 million next season and $7 million over the next two with a club option in the final season.
The MLB standings are getting tight in the AL west and the Oakland Athletics and LA Angels are in a battle while the Mariners are hanging around. Seattle has the first wild card spot for the time being and this could get very interesting, since all three teams have multiple series against each other down the line through September.