Reds Acquire Santiago Espinal

[mth123]

I like your payroll suggestion in that previous post, but I just don't see them spending $40MM on an outfielder and SP. It's just not happenening. I think we'll likely see at least one trade that will bring in a more cost-controlled outfielder. Which will leave a bit more to spend on role/bench players.

They should have some money to play around with, and it will be fascinating to see how they spend it.

They have money to spend, but the things they need cost more than the money (or the prospects) they have. They either need to increase the payroll to give them more money to spend, settle for half measures that don't really fill the needs or skimp in lesser roles to provide more playflex. I'm advocating for skimping in lesser roles because I doubt they'll increase the payroll much beyond $125 Million and if they don't it will be another winter of half measures that will cost significant bucks but don't adequately address the holes that need filled. How many more Montas, Pagan, Candy contracts do they need to sign before the opportunity that lies ahead of this team has been frittered away for good?

[mth123]

If they can find a bona fide cleanup hitter, great but I think they'll be relegated to hope that CES is that guy. Baseball isn't like Amazon where you can find what you need if you're willing to spend the money. That said, I think you've identified their top priority. A good hitter in the middle of this lineup would do wonders for their scoring which has arguably been their biggest weakness this year

If they rely on internal question marks again, it will be another season of 4th place IMO. I agree that is probably what happens.

There are too many guys who strike out too much without offsetting it with walks. That keeps the team on base percentage low and is the root cause behind the offensive problems. Weeding out low OBP guys like CES, Benson, Candy, Fairchild and Espinal is just as important to making the offense contender worthy as adding that clean-up hitter.

[GAC]

Then why do we want him back? If he's that weak, what kind of insurance policy is he?

As I stated before ... solely bench/utility, his diversity at a cheap price. If you want all this money invested in Elly and a power bat, then a team like Cincinnati will need to cut corners in some areas.

My personal All-time favorite Red's SS is Concepcion. Both Davey and Espinal are known for their infield defense. Davey's career line is ....

.267 .322 .357 .679

Espinal's career line ... .268 .323 .370 .693

I have no issues with Espinal being a backup on my bench if cheap enough.

We can't sit here and say how valuable he is and then act like it won't cost money. Everybody gets a raise in arb.

Never said he wouldn't get a raise in arb. Just not almost doubling what he's currently getting that's all.

[mth123]

As I stated before ... solely bench/utility, his diversity at a cheap price. If you want all this money invested in Elly and a power bat, then a team like Cincinnati will need to cut corners in some areas.

My personal All-time favorite Red's SS is Concepcion. Both Davey and Espinal are known for their infield defense. Davey's career line is ....

.267 .322 .357 .679

Espinal's career line ... .268 .323 .370 .693

I have no issues with Espinal being a backup on my bench if cheap enough.



Never said he wouldn't get a raise in arb. Just not almost doubling what he's currently getting that's all.

I don't have issues with Espinal either, but there are a lot of guys who can play very good defense in the minor league who aren't in the majors simply because they can't hit. Espinal, in spite of his last 65 or so PAs, can't hit either. His OBP is .291. I just don't think his defense is worth that on a team that needs other stuff and there will be slick fielding FA available for less money. Get somebody else for cheap. Say it's not $5 Million. Say it's $4 Million, If they can get the same thing for $1Million, why not do it and add that $3 Million to whatever they can pay the new clean-up hitter they need?

As far as career numbers, Davey was rushed for his glove and was a terrible bat early and improved significantly. His typical season was a lot better than those career numbers. Espinal is trending the other way. He hit well early and has been trending into Medoza territory the last 2 years. Expectations from here on out should be well below those career numbers. Again, his OBP this season is .291. If McLain is injured, I don't want Espinal getting those PAs. I'll go with a cheap glove as the 26th man and if there is a longer-term need, I'd probably give Arroyo a look.

Open as much space in the budget for a clean-up hitter as they can. A few Million here and a few million there might be the difference between settling for a suspect like Candy and getting some one for $10 million per year more who actually fills the need.

[herbdizzle]

Espinal is a perfect backup infielder. Hes a positive WAR player. Between Santiago and Fairchild I think we already have 2 very good end of the bench guys.

We need 2 more everyday options in the OF more than anything

[mth123]

Espinal is a perfect backup infielder. Hes a positive WAR player. Between Santiago and Fairchild I think we already have 2 very good end of the bench guys.

We need 2 more everyday options in the OF more than anything

But how do they pay for it??

[Kingspoint]

But how do they pay for it??

I'm with you regarding finding the money to pay for Santander to play RF full-time and bat cleanup. I'd let Fraley go. I'd do whatever it takes to get rid of Candelario. If McLain looks healthy, I'd trade India. There's money from Fraley, India and Candelario (whatever percentage we can avoid having to pay ourselves to get rid of him) to add to the money that it's going to take to win the bid on Santander ($11M now, probably a 5yr/$125M contract to outbid everyone). Santander has the profile that suggests he will still be productive in his age-34 season. All other FA RF's are at least 2 years older than Santander now. If India/Fraley/Candelario can be included on a trade for a RF who is not a FA this Winter who is not older than Santander, then that would be another option. There's money from Montas and others who won't be here.

[TRF]

My concern about 2025 ended on Aug. 1. I thought there were moves to be made for today and tomorrow. A minor league player I wanted that was on nobody's radar here was dealt to the Marlins.

Wiemer is a guy though. He's got potential at least.

I was fine with letting Eapinal man 2B everyday if India were dealt. But going into 2025? He's replaceable with a guy that will cost the team no more than Eapinal 2024.

Sent from my CPH2611 using Tapatalk

[Ron Madden]

Santiago Espinal’s bloop single drives in 2 runs as the Reds hold off the Astros for a 5-3 win

Santiago Espinal’s well-placed bloop single drove in two runs in the fifth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros 5-3 on Monday.



Verlander walked the bases full in the first inning. TJ Friedl hit a sacrifice fly, and France singled in Elly De La Cruz for a 2-0 lead.

“I was all over the place in that first inning,” Verlander said. “The mechanics, not good. The location needed to be better. I made some decent pitches that weren’t called but it’s hard to get pitches when you’re all over the place.”

Cincinnati went ahead to stay with a two-out rally in the fifth. With runners on second and third, Espinal’s blooper landed in shallow right field.

Full Story Here
https://apnews.com/article/astros-re...1bd15147522e2e

[Bourgeois Zee]

Not sure if I've ever seen someone get as consistently hot as Espinal after such a poor long (3 months plus) beginning. For the year, he's up to a .295/ .348/ .514/ .862 line against LHP.

I'd be fine with Espinal as a short-side platoon guy and defensive replacement at 3B.

That would mean one of Candelario, CES, or Marte would likely have to be in either AAA or on another team.

[Ron Madden]

Santiago Espinal continues to shine in his role as the Reds beat the Astros

Cincinnati Reds utility player Santiago Espinal
frequently practices with a unique training glove.It’s so small that it looks like it was made for a five-year-old. Inside of the webbing, there are big red pads that take up the bulk of the space in the mitt.

Before just about every game, Espinal sets up near the first base dugout, puts on the glove and fields one ground ball after another. Because the glove is so small and because the pads are taking up so much space, Espinal has to snatch the ball perfectly to make sure it lands inside of the mitt. He makes it look easy as he fields one grounder after another.

Espinal has the best hands on the team and he makes contact as consistently as anyone on the team. He whiffs less often than almost anyone else in baseball, strikes out at an extraordinarily low rate, puts the ball in play and uses the entire field.

On Sunday, Espinal hit the walk-off single in the 11th inning as the Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers. With the game-winning run on third base, Bell pinch-hit Espinal. Bell needed a batter who could put the ball in play, and Espinal was the ideal option.

"It's a great skill," Bell said. "It separates him. It's led to a lot of hits in big spots."

continue reading here:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...s/75050662007/

[mth123]

Not sure if I've ever seen someone get as consistently hot as Espinal after such a poor long (3 months plus) beginning. For the year, he's up to a .295/ .348/ .514/ .862 line against LHP.

I'd be fine with Espinal as a short-side platoon guy and defensive replacement at 3B.

That would mean one of Candelario, CES, or Marte would likely have to be in either AAA or on another team.

Marte needs to go back to AAA and stay there until he learns how to play baseball again. I'd probably start CES out in AAA as well. I'd bring Espinal back as the starting 3B hitting 9th. McLain, EDLC and Espinal would be the best defensive infield since Phillips, Cozart and Rolen. Espinal can hit 8th or 9th and do his little pesky thing. Candy at 1B, Steer in LF. India at DH. Fraley as a reserve alternative who could play when anybody other than Stephenson or Friedl needs a day off. Go get a RF who can hit clean-up.

Marte, CES, Stewart, Collier, Arroyo in AAA/AA. Whoever get's here first can push Espinal to the bench or a platoon role, but right now, he's the best they have as a major league 3B and its not really close. I don't expect him to hit like he has the last couple of months, but a .675 to .700 OPS from him makes him easily the best internal option they have until proven otherwise.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Marte needs to go back to AAA and stay there until he learns how to play baseball again. I'd probably start CES out in AAA as well. I'd bring Espinal back as the starting 3B hitting 9th. McLain, EDLC and Espinal would be the best defensive infield since Phillips, Cozart and Rolen. Espinal can hit 8th or 9th and do his little pesky thing. Candy at 1B, Steer in LF. India at DH. Fraley as a reserve alternative who could play when anybody other than Stephenson or Friedl needs a day off. Go get a RF who can hit clean-up.

Marte, CES, Stewart, Collier, Arroyo in AAA/AA. Whoever get's here first can push Espinal to the bench or a platoon role, but right now, he's the best they have as a major league 3B and its not really close. I don't expect him to hit like he has the last couple of months, but a .675 to .700 OPS from him makes him easily the best internal option they have until proven otherwise.

IF they go get a legitimate RF bat, hitting Espinal 9th and letting him play some 3B (with India, Candelario, Steer, and-- in an emergency-- EDLC) makes some sense.

I'd prefer Candelario there as part of a platoon, with a (relatively) big bopper at 1B-- and/or DH.

We agree that the Reds need a big bat at one of the corners.

[*BaseClogger*]

If Mike Siani and his 54 OPS+ were on this roster, we'd be demanding his public tarring and feathering before being DFA'd, very strongly

Depends on how much you value the defensive components of the stat but Siani is up to 1.4 fWAR in 263 PAs this season.

[mth123]

IF they go get a legitimate RF bat, hitting Espinal 9th and letting him play some 3B (with India, Candelario, Steer, and-- in an emergency-- EDLC) makes some sense.

I'd prefer Candelario there as part of a platoon, with a (relatively) big bopper at 1B-- and/or DH.

We agree that the Reds need a big bat at one of the corners.

As much as I hate the Candelario signing, I'm kind of optimistic about him. He's been playing banged up and he's showing the Wade Miley pattern of being good every other year. Defensively, I don't really like him at 3B or 1B, but he's making $15 Million per year each of the next two years and he's going to play.

If they can get India to be a reasonable LF (Spencer Steer is a low bar to hurdle), I'd rather have him in LF, Steer at 1B and Candy at DH but I hate to assume stuff that's never happened before. I think having Espinal play some OF while India mans 2B is probably an indication that the Reds don't really think India can play in the OF. I also think Espinal at 3B with India at 2B is an indication that they don't think he can play 3B either. Espinal won a Gold Glove at 2B. If they thought India could play those other spots, they'd play him there and have Espinal at 2B.