The Blue Jays granted veteran infielder his release today, manager John Larry Nance Jr. Jersey Schneider . Escobar had been in camp on a minor league contract, but the team informed him this morning he wouldnt make the club. Hes a free agent once again. Escobar, 35, was facing long odds of cracking the Toronto roster. The club doesnt have a clear everyday option at second base or third base but does have plenty of options for both positions. is perhaps the most likely player to get playing time at the keystone, but will also be in the mix there. could be the favorite for the hot corner after signing a two-year deal this winter, though can also play there on occasion when hes not the designated hitter. seemed to win the backup infield job this spring, which pushed the Jays to flip to the Reds. They could have optioned Espinal to keep him as depth but they also have , and on the roster. and are also in camp as non-roster options for bench bat role. Escobar would have been trying to force his way past that group but he hit just .122/.143/.268 this spring. Since he hit .226/.269/.344 for the Mets and Angels last year, he wasnt carrying a lot of momentum towards a roster spot and will now return to free agency. He has been very inconsistent in his career but can market himself to clubs based on the fact that was in good form as recently as the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He hit 28 home runs in the first of those campaigns and 20 in the second. His .247/.305/.452 slash line over that time translates to a wRC+ of 106. Hes not a strong defender but his ability to the play the three non-shortstop positions and his switch-hitting ability give him plenty of flexibility. J.R. Smith Jersey