Rays Trade Prospect to Marlins for Yunel Escobar

Tampa Bay gets a shortstop and the Marlins dump more salary

The Tampa Bay Rays traded middle infield prospect Derek Dietrich to the Miami Marlins for shortstop Yunel Escobar .

News that the deal was close was first reported by Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, and confiremed later by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Escobar was acquired by the Marlins as part of last month’s blockbuster trade with the Blue Jays and will arrive in Tampa Bay having never played a game for the Marlins.

Escobar batted just .253/.300/.344 in 145 games this past season for Toronto. Escobar’s career numbers are better having posted a .282/.399.344 /line in six major league seasons.

The 30-year-old Escobar is owed $5 million in 2013 and has $5 million club options for each of the following seasons, on a deal signed in June of 2011.

Escobar made news this summer and was suspended three games by the Blue Jays for displaying an unacceptable message on his eye black.

Escobar will likely become the everyday shortstop for the Rays with Ben Zobrist sliding over to second base.

The Rays used a number of shortstops in 2012 including Elliot Johnson, John Rodriguez, and Zobrist.

Dietrich, 23, hit .279/.338/.457 and added 14 home runs and 75 RBI between High A Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery.

The Rays drafted him in the second round in 2010.

He is expected to eventually move to third base, giving the Marlins yet another potential third baseman with some power.