A salute to a magical season or a signal of where he’ll wind up?
That’s the question following free agent Ben Zobrist after he helped carry the Royals to a World Series victory over the Mets, then days later named his newborn Blaise Royal Zobrist.
His wife, recording artist Julianna Zobrist, announced the birth of the couple’s baby girl on Twitter on Friday. Throughout Kansas City’s playoff run, there was a constant alarm around the do-everything utilityman, as the team and its fans wondered if he was due for paternity leave.
But Blaise so kindly put off her entrance onto Earth until after the clinching Game 5, but now is stirring intrigue: Is her middle name a reminder of Zobrist’s World Series ring, or a sign he’ll return to Kansas City?
Zobrist, whose July trade from Oakland turned him into a star rental, is now on the open market, where he will draw interest from teams around the league because of his bat and position versatility. His de-facto position has been second base, but he can be slotted nearly anywhere, infield or outfield, as more teams clamor for flexibility.
The Yankees and Mets are among those likely to bid on the 34-year-old’s services, with the Yankees envisioning him replacing Stephen Drew at second and spelling an aging outfield, while the Mets likely see him as an upgrade from Daniel Murphy.