/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47846803/usa-today-8785609.0.jpg)
Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo was asked on Monday night if he'd heard from any teams with interest in 33-year-old infielder Yunel Escobar while talking to rival executives at the Winter Meetings this week in Nashville, TN?
"There's been several teams that have inquired about Escobar," Rizzo told reporters.
"He's a versatile player that's a good hitter and a really good big league player. There's been several teams that have interest in him."
One of those teams was apparently the Los Angeles Angels.
Reports this afternoon say the Nationals have traded Escobar to Angels:
https://t.co/yGl1p9fX0H has confirmed that Yunel Escobar has been traded lo the Angels. #Nats #MLB #Nationals
— William Ladson (@washingnats) December 10, 2015
Yunel escobar is traded to angels
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 10, 2015
As of now, neither the trade or the return are official, though one reporter out of LA is speculating that the Nationals may receive 23-year-old reliever Trevor Gott.
Gott debut in the majors with the Angels last season, going (4-2) in 48 games with a 3.02 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 16 walks (3.02 BB/9) and 27 Ks (5.10 K/9) in 47 ⅔ innings pitched:
Looks like it is, indeed, Trevor Gott going to DC. Nothing official yet, though.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 10, 2015
Escobar, acquired from the Oakland Athletics in return for Tyler Clippard last winter, was considered by some a sell-high candidate after putting up a .314/.375/.415 line with 25 doubles and nine home runs in 139 games and 591 plate appearances in a bounce-back campaign with the Nationals in 2015 which he finished at 2.1 fWAR.
Gott, if he is the return, is a San Diego Padres' 6th Round pick from 2013 who was traded to the Angels in the Huston Street deal in July of 2014.
Source: Deal is "in the works but not done," though it could be semantics. @jonmorosi first mentioned it.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 10, 2015
More info when it's available...