The Dodgers have signed veteran middle infielder Danny Espinosa to a minor league deal, according to Alex Freedman, the communications director for their Triple-A team in Oklahoma City (Twitter link). Espinosa has already joined OKC, per Freedman.
Espinosa, who had been on the market since opting out of a minors pact with Toronto on April 30, could provide LA with some emergency infield depth. The 31-year-old’s primarily a second baseman, but he also offers extensive experience at shortstop, where the Dodgers will go without the great Corey Seager for the rest of the season. Seager underwent Tommy John surgery last month, forcing the Dodgers to move center fielder Chris Taylor to short to replace him. The injury-laden club has also been without second baseman Logan Forsythe and third baseman Justin Turner, though Espinosa hasn’t seen much action at the latter spot.
While Espinosa was a solid regular at times with the Nationals from 2010-16, a period in which he posted two seasons of at least 2.7 fWAR, his career went off the rails last year. The switch-hitter divided 2017 among three teams (the Angels, Mariners and Rays) and hit a paltry .173/.245/.278 (41 wRC+) with 109 strikeouts in 295 plate appearances. He wasn’t much better at the beginning of this season with the Jays’ Triple-A club, as he batted just .232/.271/.286 (51 wRC+) with 15 strikeouts in 60 PAs before exiting the organization.
customcrown
Goodbye Machado rumors..
And LADs season
Kenleyfornia74
Machado was never coming. Jed Lowrie is far more realistic
pd14athletics
I’m hoping A’s keep playing as they have and come trade deadline A’s are buyers!
AGAVE
I have had the same internal belief being the same.
I really doubted that we were going to make a considerable standout transaction to gain relief.
A healthy Edpinosa is fine with me.
Short term replacement
DodgersBaseball23
Lol Dodgers
jorge78
He’s never hit enough. Decent backup glove I guess…..
Solaris601
Oh my God, has it come to this?
CardsNation5
Man…..
em650r
Cliff Pennington next for the Dodgers
geejohnny
I’m thinking Michael Martinez eventually.
GarryHarris
Jose Iglesias could be available but, Dave Roberts likes multi-position players.
chinmusic26
Is JJ Hardy a possibility?
Ryan Hilson
Eric Sogard?
Jodi
See ya! Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.
Bye Felicia.