Dodgers sign veteran infielder Santiago Espinal to minor‑league deal, joins big‑league camp

Santiago Espinal signed a minor‑league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and will report to big‑league spring training as a non‑roster invitee, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported on February 16, 2026. The 31‑year‑old infielder is expected to compete for a roster spot in camp but is projected by multiple outlets to open the 2026 season at Triple‑A Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers added Espinal amid short‑term depth concerns. Manager Dave Roberts announced Tommy Edman is expected to begin the regular season on the Injured List while recovering from right ankle surgery, and Enrique Hernández is slated to open the year on the IL after a left elbow operation and is expected to miss multiple months. Those absences elevate the value of a multi‑position defender who can be a first call from Triple‑A.

Espinal’s primary appeal is defensive versatility. Sports Illustrated lists his career position totals at third base (262 games), second base (219) and shortstop (56), with additional time at both corner outfield spots and first base. Sporting News noted Espinal “appeared at every position besides pitcher, catcher and centerfield” for the Reds in one season, and Sporting News recorded him at +2 Outs Above Average in 2025 and +10 OAA across roughly 579 career games.

Offensively, outlets painted 2025 as a struggle. Rotoballer reports Espinal hit .243/.292/.282 with a career‑worst .575 OPS in 2025, logging 301 at‑bats, zero home runs, 16 RBI, 25 runs and two stolen bases. Yahoo and MLB Trade Rumors cite 328 plate appearances in 2025 and likewise note he failed to hit a home run while producing “well below‑average offensive numbers.” Rotoballer also summarizes his six major‑league seasons at .261/.316/.349 with a .665 OPS and 20 career homers in 578 games; Sporting News lists cumulative OAA in 579 career games. Those small discrepancies in AB/PA and career games appear across outlets and should be reconciled with official MLB stat pages for final box‑score accuracy.

Espinal’s path to the Dodgers follows a familiar arc: a 10th‑round pick by the Boston Red Sox in the 2016 draft, MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020, four seasons in Toronto including a strong 2021 run and a 135‑game 2022 campaign, then a trade to Cincinnati prior to the 2024 season. After playing for the Reds in 2024–25, Cincinnati outrighted him to Triple‑A Louisville in October 2025; Espinal declined the assignment and elected free agency, clearing the way for the Dodgers signing.

Organizational competition will be immediate. With Edman sidelined, Roberts identified Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim as internal options at second base; Espinal now joins that mix and will battle non‑roster invitees such as Keston Hiura, who the Dodgers recently signed to a minor‑league deal with a Spring Training invite. SI reported Espinal was added to the Dodgers’ non‑roster group as full‑squad workouts at Camelback Ranch were about to begin.

Espinal is represented by Rimas Sports Agency, MLB Trade Rumors notes. The Dodgers’ history of extracting value from utility players gives Espinal a clear blueprint: strong defensive showings at multiple spots and timely hitting in camp could convert this minor‑league deal into regular‑season opportunity and MLB call‑ups if injuries persist. Editors should confirm plate appearances, at‑bats and career games with MLB.com, Baseball‑Reference or FanGraphs to reconcile the 301 AB versus 328 PA and the 578 versus 579 career games reported across outlets.