The Mets traded 3B Eduardo Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels during Friday’s game at the Philadelphia Phillies and registered a candid reaction from SS Francisco Lindor.
“One of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Lindor said in an interview with the Apple TV broadcast. “He’s an amazing player. I just found out in the dugout. We’re going to miss him a lot. I don’t know where he went. But wherever he goes, hopefully he gets the opportunity and helps that team win. He’s one of the players that is good with the culture, and we’re going to miss him a lot.
“He has helped me — he was my locker mate back at Citi Field — and he’s been there for the nights I’ve had rough nights. He was there for me. So I’m definitely going to miss him.”
Escobar, 34, slashed .236/.286/.409 with four home runs and 16 RBI in 40 games this season.
“Eduardo Escobarthey love — but he’s not a player, they felt, fit the roster anymore,” said SNY MLB insider Andy Martinowho reported Friday that the Mets were paying all of Escobar’s salary except the required minimum to get the prospects they wanted — RHPs Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux. “So they’re paying him to play somewhere else. And, as a result, they got two young pitchers, who they liked, from the Angels.
“It’s just more evidence of [Mets owner Steve] Cohen‘s financial commitment to the team and the fact that he trusts [general manager] Billy Eppler and his front office to make the evaluations, going forward, for this trade-deadline season.”