Blue Jays Rumors: Yunel Escobar Available, Athletics Interested

The Toronto Blue Jays are willing to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar and the Oakland Athletics are one of the teams expressing interest in the 29-year-old, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com:

The Blue Jays are willing to deal shortstop Yunel Escobar, and the A's are one team showing interest, according to sources.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier in the week that A’s general manager Billy Beane would "love" to get a shortstop that could improve upon Cliff Pennington’s numbers. The 28-year-old shortstop has only mustered a line of .201/.263/.287 over his 279 at-bats this season.

Rosenthal suggested that Oakland could target Escobar, among other potentially available shortstops.

Knobler adds that the Blue Jays "would like to hand the shortstop job to 23-year-old Adeiny Hechavarria," who’s hit at a clip of .317/.365/.447 for Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate this season.

Because of the presence of Hechavarria, Knobler believes the Blue Jays could make Escobar available this summer even if they do not consider themselves to be "full-time sellers."

_____________________________________________________________________________

What is a fair package for Escobar?

_____________________________________________________________________________