Two former Dodgers have quickly found new landing spots in the National League after moving on from Los Angeles this season.
The Dodgers have leaned heavily on roster churn, using 29 different pitchers this year, not counting full-time position players. That approach has been intentional, giving high-leverage relievers more protection from overuse and allowing injured starters the time they need to come back. The position-player side has been quieter, with 22 different players used, and the front office had hoped the number would stay lower once Tommy Edman’s offseason surgery was accounted for.
Instead, injuries to catcher Will Smith and Edman opened the door for a couple of temporary additions. Catcher Chuckie Robinson and infielder Santiago Espinal both got extended chances as fill-ins, but neither stayed with the club.
Robinson was released from his minor league deal on Aug. 12, and the Dodgers brought in veteran catcher Chadwick Tromp to replace him at Triple-A. Less than a week later, Robinson landed with the Atlanta Braves on a minor league contract - the same Braves organization Tromp used to be part of.
Espinal’s path has been even busier. After the Dodgers designated him for assignment in June, he has already moved through two other organizations. His latest stop came on Aug. 20, when he signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Robinson, 31, has appeared in five games for Triple-A Gwinnett, Atlanta’s top affiliate. He’s 4-for-14 with a double and two strikeouts.
He and Maverick Handley are serving as the Braves’ de facto third catchers, and that’s a role with some real October possibility attached. The Braves just swept the Dodgers, and with the postseason eligibility deadline set for Sept. 1, there’s at least a slim chance Robinson could end up back on the Dodgers’ radar in the playoffs - this time wearing a Braves uniform.
Espinal’s recent stop before Arizona was with the Texas Rangers. He signed a minor league contract with them on July 2, then hit .262/.333/.310 in 11 games at Triple-A Round Rock before being released on July 28.
Since joining the Diamondbacks, Espinal has gone 3-for-12 with a double in his first three games.
If the Dodgers were to run into Espinal again, it would likely not be until 2026 - and only if Arizona gets into the postseason. The Diamondbacks are one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot.
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Dodgers Fans Will Be Watching Matthew Skubal For One Big Reason
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Skubals matchup with his former club gives this road trip a little extra edge, especially with Detroit still sorting through its own pitching picture. Anderson has been part of that conversation, and the Tigers also dealt Casey Mize to the Padres, leaving the staff in a different shape than it was when Skubal was still there. For Dodgers fans, the bigger question is how their newest arm handles the spotlight when the opponent knows him best. [Read more 🡒]