Santiago Espinal cleared waivers and elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB Trade Rumors reported from the MLB.com transaction log.
The move sends the veteran infielder back to the open market after the Dodgers removed him from the roster Tuesday when Tommy Edman returned from injury. MLB's player record lists Espinal as a 31-year-old right-handed infielder with a 2020 major league debut.
Espinal Leaves Dodgers After Waiver Clearance
This is Espinal's second outright process of the season. MLBTR noted that he was previously outrighted when Kiké Hernández came back from the injured list, then quickly re-signed with Los Angeles after Hernández was sidelined again.
The roster fit changed once Edman returned. MLBTR framed a possible reunion as more difficult unless Espinal accepted a minor league deal and reported to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Espinal hit .268 in 36 games for the Dodgers this season, but the offensive shape was thin: one walk and four extra-base hits. He remains valued more for glove and infield utility than for impact production.
Veteran Infielder Returns To Market
Espinal had league-average offensive seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 and 2022, but his longer recent line is more modest. MLBTR lists him as a .247/.296/.328 hitter in more than 1,000 plate appearances over the past four seasons.
For Los Angeles, the transaction clears a depth infielder from a roster squeezed by returning regulars. For Espinal, it creates another chance to find a club looking for experienced infield defense without needing to trade for it.
The clean part of the transaction is the status: Espinal is no longer in the Dodgers' organization after clearing waivers and choosing free agency.