Los Angeles Dodgers Add Santiago Espinal on Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing in additional infield depth, agreeing to a minor-league contract with veteran Santiago Espinal, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Espinal will report to the major-league camp and compete for a roster spot as the Dodgers sort through early spring injuries and positional battles.

The move comes shortly after manager Dave Roberts announced that Tommy Edman is expected to begin the regular season on the Injured List while continuing his recovery from ankle surgery.

With Edman sidelined, Roberts identified Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland, and Hyeseong Kim as internal options to see time at second base. Espinal now joins that competition and could factor into the mix if he performs well in camp.

The 31-year-old is coming off a difficult 2025 season with the Cincinnati Reds. Over 328 plate appearances, he failed to hit a home run and posted well below-average offensive numbers while logging time at every infield position and both corner outfield spots.

Cincinnati outrighted him to Triple-A Louisville in October, but Espinal declined the assignment and returned to free agency.

Earlier in his career, Espinal carved out a meaningful role with the Toronto Blue Jays. After debuting during the shortened 2020 campaign, he emerged as a regular contributor in 2021, hitting over .300 across 92 games primarily at third base.

He shifted to second base in 2022 and appeared in a career-high 135 contests, delivering roughly league-average production at the plate.

His offensive output dipped in 2023, leading Toronto to deal him to Cincinnati prior to the 2024 season. While his bat has cooled in recent years, Espinal’s defensive flexibility remains his calling card.

Though not an elite defender by advanced metrics, he has continued to provide steady play across multiple positions and graded slightly above average in Outs Above Average last season.

For Los Angeles, the signing represents a low-risk depth addition. With Edman’s timeline still progressing and several internal candidates vying for infield reps, Espinal offers experience, versatility and competition as camp unfolds.

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