Alex

Escobar

''He’ll be on the club next year,’' GM Mark Shapiro said. Escobar is hitting .244-15-56 with six steals at Buffalo, but his 101/19 K/BB rate is cause for concern.

“I’ll play all three outfield positions,” he said. “I’ll probably play three times a week.” Unless there was some sort of misunderstanding here, it appears that Crisp will get the majority of the playing time initially and bat eighth or ninth. Escobar will start against lefties and the occasional righty.

Escobar may still have plenty of long-term upside, but trading him for Spivey wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Indians, especially since the team has a crowded outfield situation. With the way things stand right now, Escobar would probably be the fourth outfielder behind Milton Bradley, Jody Gerut and Matt Lawton. Lawton could DH, opening up a spot for Escobar or Ludwick, but that would block Travis Hafner.

Escobar left Tuesday’s game with a strained gluteal muscle. It doesn’t appear to be a serious problem.

We say it every year, but is it really too much to ask for MLB to start getting these things right? The fact that Escobar still has an option remaining could really shake up the Cleveland outfield. Instead of being a lock for the team as a reserve outfielder, he’s now quite likely to open the season at Triple-A Buffalo. That’s good news for Ryan Ludwick and Coco Crisp, both of whom are more ready for the majors than Escobar. Matt Lawton will be a weaker pick in AL-only leagues if he has Ludwick to contend with right from the start of the season.

It’s amazing that Escobar never went on the DL with his strained right hamstring. He’s been limited for more than two weeks now, but perhaps he’ll be ready to make a start in the outfield soon.

Escobar is starting over Ryan Church in center field. The two could share time if Escobar resumes hitting. Church .288/.367/.500 line since the break should guarantee him of a significant role against right-handers.

Church should be playing against most right-handers with the way he’s performed since returning from Triple-A. Expect him to be back in there on Sunday.

The Nationals are going to send Escobar to Florida where he will undergo extensive physical therapy. “I want to do it the right way,” Escobar said. “I’m just going to go down right now and continue to work and rehab it. That’s all you can do.”

Escobar is likely out for the season with the injury he sustained last night. Ryan Church takes over as the primary center fielder in his place. Marlon Byrd should be called up next month to start against lefties.