Santiago Espinal's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Infielder Santiago Espinal and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. Espinal ended up playing a pretty significant role as a utility infielder for the Reds in 2024 after they acquired him from the Toronto Blue Jays in March given all of Cincy's injuries to infielders. In 118 games over 391 plate appearances, the Dominican slashed .246/.295/.356 with a below-average .650 OPS, career-high nine home runs, 45 RBI, career-high 11 stolen bases and 32 runs scored. The 30-year-old will stick in the Reds organization for a second season but probably shouldn't be guaranteed nearly as much playing time. Espinal makes plenty of contact and is useful for his ability to play multiple infield positions, but beyond that, there isn't much fantasy upside at all.

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Santiago Espinal from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Chris McElvain. The move comes on the same day that the Reds announced second baseman Matt McLain (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list and could need surgery. Noelvi Marte is also suspended for half the season due to performance-enhancing drugs, so Espinal will give the Reds some more infield insurance in 2024. Jonathan India now figures to start at the keystone with McLain on the sidelines, and the 29-year-old Espinal will back up India. Espinal hasn't been much of a fantasy asset in his four big-league seasons with the Blue Jays, slashing .273/.331/.367 with 11 homers, 99 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 346 games played.