The Dodgers are adding some veteran depth to their infield mix, signing Santiago Espinal to a minor league deal. The 31-year-old utility man will be in big-league camp this spring, giving him a shot to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. With Tommy Edman set to begin the season on the injured list as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, there’s an opportunity here-and Espinal is looking to seize it.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Edman’s IL stint earlier today, noting that the team is taking a cautious approach with his ramp-up. That opens the door for competition at second base, where Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland, and Hyeseong Kim are all in the mix. Espinal, if he shows well in camp, could be right there with them.
Now, let’s be clear-Espinal isn’t coming off a banner year. In 2025, he struggled at the plate with Cincinnati, putting up just a 58 wRC+ over 328 plate appearances.
That’s well below league average, and he didn’t hit a single home run all season. The Reds used him all over the field-he logged time at all four infield spots and even saw action in both corner outfield positions-but the offensive production just wasn’t there.
Cincinnati eventually outrighted him to Triple-A Louisville in October. Espinal declined the assignment and hit free agency.
But while the bat cooled off, Espinal’s defensive versatility remains his calling card. He’s not a Gold Glover, but he’s capable.
Defensive metrics have been mixed in recent years-Defensive Runs Saved hasn’t loved his work, but Statcast’s Outs Above Average gave him a +2 grade in 2025. That’s a solid mark, especially for someone bouncing between positions.
And when you’re building out a 26-man roster, having a guy who can plug in just about anywhere defensively has real value.
Espinal’s best stretch came with the Blue Jays. After debuting in the shortened 2020 season, he broke out in 2021 with a .311/.376/.405 slash line over 92 games.
The following year, he shifted to second base and played in a career-high 135 games, posting a league-average 100 wRC+. He wasn’t a star, but he was dependable-something every team needs over the grind of a 162-game season.
Toronto eventually dealt him to the Reds in exchange for right-hander Chris McElvain just before the 2024 season. In Cincinnati, Espinal expanded his defensive résumé to include first base and both outfield corners, but the offensive struggles kept him from locking down a steady role.
Now, with the Dodgers, he gets a fresh start. It’s a low-risk move for L.A., and for Espinal, it’s a chance to prove he still belongs on a big-league roster. If he can recapture even a bit of the form he showed in Toronto-or simply provide steady defense and professional at-bats off the bench-he could carve out a role, especially with Edman sidelined to start the year.
Spring training is often about opportunity, and for Santiago Espinal, this is a big one.