Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar is headed to the disabled list with a sore right shoulder, which he originally injured while making a throw to first base on June 24.
Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports that Escobar tried to avoid the DL by showing the Rays’ coaching staff he could make the necessary throws during a pregame workout Monday, but manager Joe Maddon determined that his arm strength was lacking.
Escobar was acquired from the Marlins (via the Blue Jays) in December of 2012 and then, after a solid first season in Tampa Bay, signed a two-year, $13 million contract extension during the first week of this season. He’s had a poor first half, batting .244 with four homers and a .650 OPS that’s 80 points below his career mark, and his usually stellar defensive numbers have dipped significantly.
