Rays pull Yunel Escobar off waivers after claim by Athletics

The Rays will not trade shortstop Yunel Escobar to the Athletics after they claimed him off of revocable trade waivers, according to manager Joe Maddon (via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). The teams had until tomorrow to work out a trade involving the shortstop, but it appears that he will be staying put in Tampa.

This news will come as a relief to Escobar, who was said by major league sources to prefer staying in Tampa, where he has a good relationship with teammates and manager Joe Maddon. The 31-year old signed an extension with the Rays that would keep him with the team through the 2016 season back in April.

The A's are known to be looking for shortstop help to provide depth in the wake of a mild injury to Jed Lowrie, who is expected to return soon after fracturing his finger. They seemed to match up well on a trade with the Rays, who would have had Nick Franklin and Ben Zobrist as capable replacements for Escobar, but Tampa apparently decided that it was in the best interest of the club to hold onto Escobar through at least the end of the season.

In 113 games on the season, Escobar has hit .253/.317/.318 with four home runs and 31 RBI. He is known as an excellent defender, and is cost-controlled at $13 million over the next two seasons.