LA Angels' Yunel Escobar: Should he stay or should he go?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. >> With every hit — and they are coming frequently — Yunel Escobar makes the question more difficult to answer.

Escobar had three more hits in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afteoon, as the Angels third baseman continued to increase his value.

Value to trade.

Value to keep.

If Escobar had a big contract or if he were a free agent at the end of this season, there wouldn’t be such a question of what to do with him between now and the Aug. 1 trading deadline.

But Escobar has a $7 million option for 2017, making him a relative bargain. That’s why the Angels could justify keeping him to compete next year, even if they are too far out to get back in the race this year.

On the other hand, an Escobar trade also offers the Angels’ best chance to net a good prospect if they want to plug a long-term hole and get younger.

General manager Billy Eppler will have to weigh both sides as he works the phones in the next few weeks.

The New York Mets, Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants are all likely shopping for a third baseman.

The other prominent third baseman on the market is Day Valencia of the Oakland A’s. Valencia, who is hitting .310 with 12 homers and an .871 on-base percentage, is having a better year than Escobar. He’s also under control for one more year, although at a salary yet to be determined.

All that Escobar offers has been on display during this trip.

After missing seven games with a sore knee, Escobar lifted his average to .327 and OPS to .800 with 13 hits in 25 at-bats in the last five games. With Escobar back in the leadoff spot, the Angels have won four of six games and averaged 8.8 runs.

“He’s a really good hitter,” Albert Pujols said. “He has a good idea at the plate of what he wants to do. ... Anytime he gets an opportunity to drive in some runs too, he’s doing that, which is huge.”

On this trip Escobar has eight hits in 11 at-bats with ruers in scoring position. For the season he is hitting .406 in those situations.

Defensively, Escobar has shown good hands and a strong, but erratic, arm. This is just his second season playing third, and his first season having a full spring training to lea the position.

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Despite the performance, Escobar is best known for the way he behaves. Playing for his fifth team in six seasons, Escobar has had issues with focus and effort.

Last month in New York, manager Mike Scioscia acknowledged that Escobar made a mistake by failing to run hard on a ground ball that was bobbled. Then he appeared to forget the number of outs on defense.

He does everything with a bit of flair, like when he pops up from a slide signaling safe. On Wednesday night, he drew attention by shaking his hand and grimacing as if an inside pitch had hit him. The umpire bought it at first, but a replay revealed that he hadn’t been hit at all.

He had to go back to the box. And he doubled home a run instead.

“He’s fun for sure,” pitcher Hector Santiago said. “As an opposing player, you see his antics and it’s like ‘Come on, guy, stop.’ As a teammate you love him. ... Everybody wants to have fun. He just does it better than anybody else.”

The only question now is: Where will be doing it next month?