NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Yunel Escobar’s stay with the Miami Marlins lasted all of two weeks.
The payroll-slashing Marlins dealt the shortstop and his $5 million salary across Florida to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night for minor league infielder Derek Dietrich.
Escobar’s departure lowers the Marlins’ projected opening-day payroll to a major league-low $38 million, which includes $4.5 million owed Toronto next year, $1.5 million due to Arizona in 2013 as part of the Heath Bell trade and $1 million for a prorated share of Bell’s signing bonus.
Acquired in the 12-player trade that sent Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson to Toronto on Nov. 19, Escobar batted .253 last season with nine homers and 51 RBIs.
