The Los Angeles Dodgers just continue to add talent. After signing both Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker in free agency, the Dodgers struck again Monday, signing a former All-Star.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers have agreed to a minor league contract with former Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds infielder Santiago Espinal.
Although Espinal hasn’t been the same player since leaving Toronto, there’s plenty of reason to believe that he could revive his career with the Dodgers.
Los Angeles has been known recently to get the best out of their utility-men, seeing great performances from Miguel Rojas, Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez over the years.
Due to their tremendous power at the top of their lineup, Los Angeles’ complementary pieces in the lineup can focus on defense while manager Dave Roberts platoons the best hitting option based on pitching matchups.
What’s most valuable for Espinal is his versatility in the field. Last season for the Reds, Espinal appeared at every position besides pitcher, catcher and centerfield, proving himself to be one of the most versatile Dodgers in the organization.
Espinal posted two OAA (Outs Above Average) in 2025 and has now racked up 10 in 579 career games. Certainly a solid number, considering all the different defensive positions that he’s been required to play.
While he’s likely to begin the season in Triple-A, there’s reason to believe that Roberts will make use for him in the big leagues at some point in 2026, even if his stay is brief.
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