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.
According to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal (wrist) had an X-ray on his right wrist on Sunday. The 28-year-old exited Saturday's meeting with the Yankees after being hit by a pitch. Fortunately, the results didn't reveal a fracture, so he'll be day-to-day with a contusion. However, Espinal hasn't played well this season, meaning there aren't many fantasy managers anxiously awaiting his return.
Santiago Espinal Exits Saturday's Contest After HBP
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal left Saturday's game after being hit by a pitch. The 28-year-old was plunked by Gerrit Cole on his wrist/hand in the second inning and exited the contest. Cavan Biggio stepped in as a pinch-runner in his place. Espinal will undergo additional testing to determine the severity of his injury. The team should provide an update on his status following the conclusion of Saturday's contest.
The Toronto Blue Jays and infielder Santiago Espinal agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million deal to avoid salary arbitration. The 28-year-old has established himself as a vital component of the Blue Jays organization as a utility infielder. He spent the bulk of 2022 at second base but also saw some reps at shortstop and third. His bat has become a weapon after slashing .267/.322/.370 with a .692 OPS that earned him an all-star spot. Although the Blue Jays acquired Whit Merrifield last season, Merrifield had no issue getting some outfield reps. If Espinal can match the numbers he posted this past season, he should be a solid fantasy option with position eligibility at second, shortstop, and third base in 2023.
George Springer, Santiago Espinal In Game 2 Lineup
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (wrist) and infielder Santiago Espinal (oblique) are both in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the American League Wild-Card Series on Saturday against Seattle Mariners left-hander Robbie Ray. Springer is in center field and hitting leadoff, while Espinal is manning the keystone and batting ninth. Springer was hit by a pitch late in the Game 1 loss, but X-rays were negative and he'll be back in there after going 2-for-3 on Friday. Espinal missed the last couple weeks of regular season action due to an oblique issue, but he'll return to the lineup on Saturday as Toronto looks to avoid elimination. The 27-year-old All-Star hit .267/.322/.370 with seven homers, 51 RBI, 51 runs and six steals in 135 games in 2022.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal (side) is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Espinal dealt with left side discomfort on Wednesday and was forced to leave the game early. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to return to the lineup on Friday, but fantasy managers should view him as day-to-day for now. The 27-year-old has been swinging it well this month, going 13-for-45 (.289) with no homers, seven RBI, seven runs and a steal in 17 games, so hopefully he's not out for long. With Espinal out, Cavan Biggio will start at the keystone and bat ninth on Thursday against Rays right-hander JT Chargois. Biggio only has 238 at-bats for Toronto in 2022 and is hitting .206 (49 hits) with six home runs, 24 RBI, 40 runs and two thefts.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal (side) was removed early during Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 27-year-old was forced out of this game due to left side discomfort. The severity of the injury is unknown at the moment. Although, it's worth noting that side and oblique issues do have a tendency to linger. Fantasy managers should expect an update possibly after the contest or sometime on Thursday.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal (hand) is back in the starting lineup on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles for the first game of a doubleheader, starting at third base and batting ninth against right-hander Mike Baumann. Espinal didn't play on Sunday in the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he'll be back in there for Game 1 of the doubleheader Monday. The 27-year-old made the All-Star team for the first time in his career this year, and he's hitting .266/.320/.376 with seven home runs, 46 RBI, 44 runs scored and five stolen bases in 448 plate appearances over 120 games. He's been useful in deep mixed leagues in 2022, but he'll be a low-upside DFS play on Monday in the nine-hole.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal has been named to the American League All-Star team as a replacement for Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (leg), according to the Blue Jays. It's Espinal's first All-Star nod in just his third season in the big leagues. The 27-year-old Dominican has stepped up for Toronto this year and is sporting a .271/.322/.394 slash line with six home runs, 37 RBI, 31 runs scored and five stolen bases in 345 plate appearances over 89 games heading into Saturday's action. Espinal was on the bench on Friday after starting the previous 10 games, but he's back at second base on Saturday and is hitting eighth against Kansas City Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal (hip) exited Saturday's game with a right hip flexor strain, the team announced on Twitter. Espinal had gone 0-for-1 at the plate prior to exiting in the bottom of the third inning against the Tigers. He's really only been an option in very deep formats this season, as he's slashing .292/.355/.380 with two homers, five steals, 15 RBI and 24 runs scored over 82 games. Consider him day to day for now, as Breyvic Valera entered the game to replace him on defense.
