Washington Nationals re-sign Alcides Escobar to a 1-year deal

“[Escobar] has played great for us, and we’ll see where that goes with us,” GM Mike Rizzo said when he spoke with reporters before the season finale on Sunday afternoon in D.C., referring, of course, to veteran infielder Alcides Escobar, who was acquired from Kansas City for cash back on July 3rd, and has now re-signed with Washington on a one-year deal for 2022.

Escobar, 34, played 11 seasons with Milwaukee’s Brewers and the Royals between 2008-18, but he was out of the majors for two seasons before returning with the Nationals this year.

In 75 games and 349 plate appearances with the Nats, Escobar had a .288/.340/.404 line with 21 doubles, two triples, and four home runs.

“Honestly, he’s having fun, he’s enjoying the game,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez said when he was asked about Escobar’s production at the end of August. “He’s getting an opportunity to play in the big leagues again, which is great for him. He’s such an unbelievable person to be around and the guy is always cheerful, he’s always excited to play. He loves to play.”

Asked at that point if he could see Escobar coming back for more, the fourth-year skipper said he thought it might make sense.

“I think this guy can be very important, especially when he can play third base, shortstop, second base, and even play the outfield,” Martinez said.

“Offensively he’s doing well, he really is. And if he can continue to do that for the rest of the year, I can’t see why — it will be a conversation we’ll definitely have at the end of the season about possibly bringing him back here.

“But I love — like I said, his attitude has been tremendous, and he’ll do anything, hit anywhere, do whatever you ask him to do.”

As the Nationals noted in a press release on Escobar’s new deal, the infielder, “...joined the Nationals on July 3rd, and from that point through the end of the season, ranked on the club in doubles (1^st, 21), hits (1^st, 92), and batting average with runners in scoring position (2^nd, .379).”

Escobar had also reached base in 18-straight games when the Nationals’ 2021 season came to an end.