You and I discuss it all the time, but I think versatility should be one of our biggest priorities this offseason and a switch hitter like Escobar would fit that mold perfectly.
Two of the reasons I'd be a huge fan of an Escobar signing - so long as he doesn't cost too much.
One of the things the Cubs have done that I've been a huge fan of is to continue to beat the versatility drum - even if it means you don't always have guys in their best positions. I think this really works during the regular season, and can be a big part of making you successful when you're a legitimate contender for something more than just a division crown.
I mentioned him a good while back, but I'm not sure most would want to go as far as I would if we added him. If you bring Escobar on board, I'd have Camargo and Riley spend a lot of time tracking flyballs this winter (Johan in both corner spots) and have Ozzie brush up on his SS play and maybe even see how he looks in CF. All of a sudden you'd have tons of interchangeable pieces, and could REALLY lean on Snitker to play the lineup the numbers dictate EVERY DAY, and could even go with a really short bench.
1B - Freeman (L), Escobar (S), Culberson (R)
2B - Albies (S), Escobar (S), Camargo (S), Culberson (R)
SS - Dansby (R), Albies (S), Camargo (S), Culberson (R)
3B - Riley (R), Camargo (S), Escobar (S), Culberson (R)
LF - Escobar (S), Camargo (S), Culberson (R), Riley (R)
CF - Ender (L), Acuna (R), Albies (S)
RF - Acuna (R), Ender (L), Camargo (S)
Spend the money to sign Grandal, and you'd still have 3 switch-hitters on the bench on a lot of days between Grandal/Camargo/Escobar/Albies even with a 3-man bench. Of course a short bench like that would be really outside the box, but if you wanted to use an "Opener" in the NL, that's probably the type of lineup you'd need to make it work for an extended period of time. I think there are plenty of teams that could make it work without the DH for a short time or playoff series, but probably not for weeks at a time if you've only got one utility guy on the dirt and one in the OF. You're still going to have too many days when your SP just doesn't have it and can't get through a lineup twice (even coming in against the latter part of the order) or your Opener gets ambushed and doesn't get out of the 1st.