The Yankees have elected to add 30-year-old infielder Danny Espinosa on a minor-league deal, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports on Twitter. He’ll receive an invitation to spring training camp, where he’ll compete for the Yankees’ second base job.
Prior to the 2017 season, Espinosa had played exclusively for the Nationals. While he spent most of his career as a reserve infielder, a strong finish to the 2015 season earned him a full time role in 2016 during which he batted .208/.306/.378 while homering 24 times and stealing nine bases. However, he struggled mightily last season across 295 combined plate appearances between the Angels, Rays and Mariners… Espinosa managed just a .523 OPS while striking out nearly 37% of the time.
Espinosa’s true calling card is his excellent defense in the middle infield; he’s been worth a total of 34 runs saved between shortstop and second base over the course of his eight-year MLB career. However, even that once-spectacular defense declined a bit last season. Fangraphs gave him a 2.6 defense rating, which is a career low for the veteran. All told, he played at a full win below replacement level for the 2017 campaign, and he’ll have to rebound significantly in order to convince the Yankees he’s deserving of a roster spot.
With Starlin Castro now in Miami, the 25-year-old Ronald Torreyes figures to be Espinosa’s biggest competitor for the job out of spring training camp. Of course, it’s probably a moot point considering the club is likely just looking for a temporary stopgap until top prospect Gleyber Torres is ready to claim the starting job at the keystone.
Espinosa was Washington’s third round pick in the 2008 draft (87th overall). His MLB debut came on September 1st, 2010, during which he had one hit and an RBI in 2 at-bats. The California State University Long Beach product provided 11.3 WAR during his time with the Nationals prior to a trade that sent him to the Angels in exchange for two minor-league pitchers.
Chris
Man he must be on that Benjamin Button flow. But either way not sure Yankees should be employing children in the outfield
melfman1
Did you mean infield?
wrigleywannabe
They shouldn’t be surfing the web unsupervised, either.
walls17
#28 guaranteed
xabial
I asked this question before:
Is this guy a “Rich man’s Brendan Ryan”?
CursedRangers
Maybe. I do find it intriguing that he had a better WAR than Albert Pujols last year.
Jimcarlo Slaton
.180 ba, 34 hr, 55 rbi as a regular for the Yankees.
itslonelyatthetrop
215 Ks
acerulli1
LOL
thekid9
Yes but he hits so many homeruns. (Ty Cobb rolling over )
pasha2k
He doesn’t need to bat.
Benklasner
But he has to.
itslonelyatthetrop
And there goes the best mustache in baseball… sad.
walls17
can still have a moustache
limjaheytrailerparksupervisor
Haha Im assuming you haven’t seen the mustache he grows.
bigdaddyt
RIP jimmy
pdubs2907
He had a bad 2017 but I’m a little surprised he’s so cheap. Maybe the 2nd base market is really weak. Nice low risk pickup for the Yanks.
beard
bad 2016 too
BigFred
” a strong finish to the 2016 season earned him a full time role in 2016 “
pasha2k
NYY’s score 10, Redsox 0
Bald Vinny
NYY 50 to RED SOX 0. And a repeat of AL EAST CHAMPS! #28!
slider32
Let’s face it, the Yanks have enough in the infield right now to start the season. Torreyes was good the first month last year when he subbed for Didi, and Andujar deserves a shot. He can hit. Wade is a good back-up for a few weeks until they bring up Torres.
acarneglia
Now let’s go resign Todd Frazier… please
thecoffinnail
I see the Yankees dilemma with resigning Frazier.. If they resign him it will have to be for multiple years (if he was willing to settle for a 1 year deal he would already be signed).. In doing so they would have to trade Andujar because Frazier would hold down 3rd.. Andujar has played well enough in the minors to at least get a shot at taking the job.. The problem then is what if Andujar gets the job out of spring training and then stinks it up when MLB pitchers adjust to him? The Yankees would then have to make a move to replace him at the deadline.. They are stuck in a catch-22.. That is why I believe trading Headley was a mistake.. He could have provided a decent back-up for Andujar at a palatable one year cost, while also supplying insurance for the oft-injured Greg Bird.. The Yankees could then go after Machado hard next offseason if Andujar proves to be yet another AAAA type player.. Trading Headley was a huge mistake IMO…
mike156
They needed to clear salary space. I’d rather have kept Headley as well, but they are serious about getting under the CBT threshold.
steveb-2
Forget it. Frazier will play for someone who will give him the multi-year deal that he deserves.
Meanwhile- I’ve watched Miguel Andujar play 3B. He’s an exciting ballplayer. If he can win the 3B job he’ll make everyone forget Frazier.
thegreatcerealfamine
While I agree with the no on Frazier for the Yankees but what has Frazier done to deserve a multi-year deal…
halofan20
Well you do need bodies to fill out the minor league roster
Yankees21
Exactly. . .he slots right into the recently vacated Donovan Solano role. . .nothing more than that.
mike156
Well, I think that wraps up the AL East for the Yankees.
jmi1950
The NYY’s need to trade trade Ells & $$$$ — 3 yrs/68.5 MM — for Desmond. — 4 yrs / 62 MM. Ells should be willing to waive his NTC to go to Col, close to his AZ home with a spot open in CF. Desmond gives them vet ins who can play 2b/3b and in a pinch fill in at 1B & SS plus they spread out his $$$ over 4 yrs rather than 3 for a lower AVV.
chino31
Kinda like that trade as Desmond can also play some first. Colorado will need a center when Blackmon flees.
Kaizoku
Nobody wants Ellsbury
Glydog
Danny needs a seance with Charlie Lau. Talented, plays hard, but a bit stubborn at the plate.
sfgiants49ers
Good infielder but hes strikeouts kill you. All this guy needs to do is have a better contact and put the ball in play instead of swinging for the fences. I really like the whole Japan league as they look into putting the ball in play as it gives the openent a better chance at making errors instead of taking tbe strikeout.
Calvin M
There is a perfectly good second baseman who wants to leave the Marlins and they are looking for good prospects which the Yankees have plenty of.. And the guy even knows all about New York and can function there.
thegreatcerealfamine
“perfectly good second baseman” I don’t think so. Yankees have plenty of prospects to be used on someone who isn’t so lackadaisical…
Kaizoku
Who is that player?
yankeemanuno23
I think Espinosa will have a better avg & obp w NYY than w Nats, especially w Yankee coaches help & lineup help!! Solid glove. Role player for 2018.
Kaizoku
He looks like a baker or pizzeria chef … Mario Bros
nasrd
He’s on a downhill run