Dodgers Sign Santiago Espinal to Minor League Deal in 2026

The Dodgers have signed veteran infielder Santiago Espinal to a minor-league deal. He’s already in big-league camp as the club takes a look at its infield depth.

With Tommy Edman sidelined early in the season after ankle surgery, Los Angeles is poking around for second base options. Espinal’s defensive versatility gives him a real shot to crack the Opening Day roster—if his bat can hang in the majors again.

This move comes after a 2025 season in Cincinnati that raised questions about his offense but showed off his glove-first value.

Dodgers sign Espinal to minor-league deal; camp implications for second base

Espinal, 31, shows up with a mixed track record but a profile that fits a club focused on defense and flexibility. He took 58 plate appearances with Cincinnati in 2025, posting a 58 wRC+ and going 328 plate appearances without a home run before the Reds sent him outright to Triple-A Louisville in October.

Espinal declined that assignment and became a free agent, eventually landing with a Dodgers organization eager to add middle infield depth. His career arc helps explain why the Dodgers would take a flier on him right now.

He broke into the majors with the Blue Jays during the shortened 2020 season. Espinal became a regular in 2021, hitting .311/.376/.405 across 92 games.

In 2022 he shifted to second base and delivered a 100 wRC+ over a career-high 135 games. His offense cooled in 2023 as he took on a bigger utility role, posting a .644 OPS.

Toronto traded him to Cincinnati for Chris McElvain before the 2024 season. His time with the Reds in 2024 and 2025 didn’t do much for his offensive numbers, but he stayed versatile across infield spots.

The Dodgers’ interest centers on Espinal’s defensive versatility. They’re not banking on his bat.

Defensive versatility as a Dodgers-strength and Espinal’s fit

Defensively, Espinal has graded out as roughly league-average in recent metrics. He logged +2 Outs Above Average in 2025, which isn’t nothing.

That kind of range and reliability at multiple infield spots fits right into how Los Angeles approaches infield depth in spring camp. The Dodgers have always liked players who can move around, letting them deal with injuries and keep the lineup flexible without sacrificing defense.

Espinal has shown the kind of positional elasticity that keeps him in the mix, even while the club checks out younger talent. He played a career-high 135 games at second base in 2022, a level of familiarity the Dodgers can lean on as they sort through their own options.

His offense hasn’t matched his standout 2021 season. Still, his defensive skills and ability to move around the infield give him a real shot at the roster if he can contribute even a little with the bat or just offer steady defense off the bench.

Second-base competition in Dodgers camp and Espinal’s potential impact

With Tommy Edman set to start the year on the injured list after ankle surgery, the Dodgers are figuring out who can handle second base for now. Along with Espinal, Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland, and Hyeseong Kim have all come up as possible fill-ins while Edman recovers.

Espinal could jump into that mix if he makes the team. He’d bring a veteran presence and some versatility that might help the Dodgers get through the first stretch of the season.

• Miguel Rojas as a second-base option and defensive contributor
• Alex Freeland in the mix as a young infielder with a shot to prove himself
• Hyeseong Kim providing extra infield depth and potential
• Espinal’s versatility gives him a real shot at the MLB roster if his bat comes around

Espinal isn’t here to light up the scoreboard—his value is more about game-ready defense and depth. The Dodgers seem to think that a steady glove and the ability to cover multiple spots could be enough to keep him in the conversation as camp plays out.

If he comes through with some timely hits or clutch defense, Espinal could end up as a useful piece in a crowded Dodgers infield. His experience in the middle infield gives the Dodgers someone to lean on during Edman’s absence.

Whether Espinal turns into a regular or just stays a valuable depth guy depends on how things shake out in camp. The Dodgers love flexibility, so if he earns it, there’s a role for him somewhere.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers To Sign Santiago Espinal To Minor League Deal