Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle was the first to report. Later, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports confirmed.
The #Athletics are on the verge of acquiring Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar from the #Rays, the @sfchronicle has learned.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) January 10, 2015
Sources: Zobrist and Y. Escobar going to #Athletics, Jaso and Daniel Robertson going to #Rays. First reported: @susanslusser.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 10, 2015
Rays: C: Jaso, Rivera. 1B: Loney. 2B: Franklin, SS: Cabrera, Forsythe. 3B: Longoria. OF: Kiermaier, Jennings, DeJesus. DH: Souza.
Athletics: C: Vogt, Phegley, 1B: I. Davis, 2B: Zobrist or Sogard, SS: Escobar or Semien, 3B: Lawrie, OF: Crisp, Reddick, Fuld, Gentry, DH: Butler.
Robertson, the team's No. 1 prospect according to MLB.com, projects to be a solid shortstop was taken in the first round of the 2012 draft, and slashed .310/.402/.471 for the Stockton Ports of the California League.
Escobar, 32, hit .258 with seven home runs and 39 RBI's. However, he only played in 137 games. He is getting to the end of his prime years in baseball, but will not be a free agent until 2017. If he does not produce to the expectation of the Rays, he may be shipped.
Zobrist, 33, only played in 146 games last season, but still managed to hit .272 with 10 home runs. He was able to add 52 RBI's. Zobrist will become a free agent after the 2015 season. He will probably sign a contract with the Athletics if they like what they see in the 2015 season.
- Evan Petzold