Diamondbacks infielder Eduardo Escobar ‘on his way’ to White Sox: report

Help could be on the way soon for the White Sox. According to a report Saturday night from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Diamondbacks infielder Eduardo Escobar is “on his way” to Chicago.

Escobar would help fill the hole left at second base by Nick Madrigal’s season-ending hamstring injury. Second base stand-ins Leury Garcia and Danny Mendick have not provided the kind of pop Escobar would bring to the lineup. Batting .253 with 17 homers and 52 RBI this season, Escobar went 4-for-5 on Saturday, but was not in the Arizona lineup Sunday.

The Sox have not confirmed the deal, though manager Tony La Russa said Friday that front-office staff was working the phones.

“They’ve been making phone calls and keeping staff abreast of possibilities,” La Russa said. “And there’s no doubt in our mind — and fans should understand — that if there’s something that’s reasonable, they’re going to try hard to make it happen.”

Though the trade deadline is still over a month away, the Sox are in a position of need now, and the rumored acquisition of Escobar would fill one of the team’s major holes in the roster.

“End of next month is not as appealing as it would be right now to get help,” La Russa said Friday.

Whatever moves the Sox make, La Russa emphasized that they will not be the kind that cut deep into the team’s farm system.

“I don’t know if something reasonable can be done,” he said. “I just know for the last two weeks or so, the way Kenny [Williams] and Rick [Hahn] and their teammates up there work, they’re looking and preparing and making phone calls. That’s what I’m confident — that they’re trying their best to help us. If it’s not reasonable, then we go with what we’ve got.”

First substance ejection

Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago was the first pitcher to be ejected under MLB’s new foreign-substance policy. During the fifth inning in the first game of the doubleheader, Santiago was pulled with two runners on and one out. During a routine inspection, umpires ejected him for a substance they found on his glove.

“What we do is we go around the whole glove, feeling for anything that would be sticky or something,” crew chief Tom Hallion said. “Yes, it was very noticeable and then the rest of the crew inspected to make sure we were all in agreement. All four agreed that it was a sticky substance and that’s why he was ejected.”

The 33-year-old left-hander denied using anything illegal.

‘‘I know that I didn’t use anything today,” Santiago said. “I think once they take it back and check, it’s just sweat and rosin. They’re going to inspect it and all this science stuff and it’s going to be sweat and rosin.”

Kopech still progressing

Michael Kopech (hamstring) is on track to pitch his second simulated game Monday, weather permitting.

“He did come out of the Friday outing good, looking forward to tomorrow,” La Russa said.

La Russa was impressed with Kopech’s command and velocity after his first sim game. Kopech has been on the injured list since May 26.

Three named All-Star finalists

Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, and Yoan Moncada were named finalists to start the All-Star Game on July 13 in Denver.

Fans can vote beginning Monday morning.

SOX VS. TWINS

Monday: Lucas Giolito (5-5, 3.80) vs. Kenta Maeda (3-2, 4.85), 7:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM

Tuesday: Dylan Cease (6-3, 3.81) vs. Bailey Ober (0-0, 4.64), 7:10 p.m, NBCSCH, 1000-AM

Wednesday: Carlos Rodon (6-3, 2.06) vs. Jose Berrios (7-2, 3.41), 7:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM

Thursday: Lance Lynn (7-3, 2.06) vs. TBD, 1:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM