Edwin

Escobar

Escobar signed a minor league contract last November with the Cubs, after spending the previous five years pitching overseas in Japan, and didn’t end up making it back to Chicago. The 32-year-old southpaw, who hasn’t appeared in the majors since making 25 relief appearances during the 2016 campaign for the Guardians, posted a serviceable 4.86 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 47/33 K/BB ratio across 46 1/3 innings (31 appearances) for Triple-A Iowa.

The Cubs are now down to 36 players on the spring roster. Escobar hasn’t appeared in a MLB game since the 2016 season when he was with the Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old has spent the past seven seasons pitching in Japan. He put together a 5.63 ERA with a 8/5 K/BB ratio across eight innings of work during spring camp.

Escobar hasn’t appeared in the majors since making 25 relief appearances during the 2016 campaign for the Guardians. The 31-year-old southpaw has spent the last seven seasons pitching in Japan. He figures to compete for a spot in Chicago’s season-opening bullpen during spring training.

Escobar posted a 2.96 and 122/32 K/BB ratio over 130 2/3 Low-A innings in 2012. He’s not close to being big league-ready, but the Giants couldn’t afford to risk losing the 20-year-old in the Rule 5 Draft.

He will debut for the Diamondbacks on Monday against the Astros. Escobar posted underwhelming numbers in the minor leagues and should be avoided for fantasy purposes.

Escobar walked two and struck out one in the ballgame. It was all downhill from the start, with Dexter Fowler launching a solo home run to start the game. The Cubs then tacked on three runs in the fourth to chase him. With a 14.14 ERA and 2.57 WHIP through his first two starts, it’s unlikely that the Diamondbacks send him back out there for another start.

Escobar made two starts for the Diamondbacks. Neither went well. When the combined dust settled, he had allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits over seven innings. Manager Chip Hale said at the beginning of the week that the 24-year-old southpaw was being transitioned to the bullpen. It looks like he will be making that transition in Triple-A.

It’s understandable, as Escobar gave up 12 runs (11 earned) in seven innings over two starts. The Diamondbacks have yet to announce who will start Saturday against the Marlins.

The D’Backs surely didn’t want to have to turn to Escobar in this one, as his numbers in the upper minors have been rather lackluster. But, with Shelby Miller (finger) and Rubby De La Rosa (elbow) on the shelf, they didn’t have many options. There’s a good chance Arizona will go with someone else this weekend against the Cubs. If Escobar gets trotted out there again, it will be ugly.

It’ll be the first big league start for the 24-year-old southpaw. He has been uninspiring in five starts at Triple-A Reno this season, compiling a 4.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 17/6 K/BB ratio across 25 innings. He can be safely avoided for fantasy purposes.