Reds Acquire Santiago Espinal

[Ron Madden]

Reds Acquire Santiago Espinal

Reds Acquire Santiago Espinal

The Reds acquired infielder Santiago Espinal from the Blue Jays for minor league righty Chris McElvain, both teams announced. Cincinnati has a full 40-man roster but did not immediately announce the corresponding move.

Acquiring an infielder a week before Opening Day probably wasn’t what the Reds anticipated entering camp. For most of the offseason, it seemed much likelier that Cincinnati’s infield depth would lead them to trade someone away. That was particularly true after they added corner infielder Jeimer Candelario on a three-year free agent pact.

Things have changed rather quickly. Top prospect Noelvi Marte was suspended for 80 games after a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone. That cleared everyday third base reps for Candelario, who had previously been ticketed for action between both corner spots and designated hitter.

Perhaps even more alarming than the Marte suspension was today’s announcement that expected second baseman Matt McLain received an MRI on his injured left shoulder.

The team hasn’t provided a timeline on McLain, but manager David Bell told reporters this evening that he wouldn’t be ready for the start of the season. Bell had rather ominously left open the possibility that McLain could require surgery this morning, although the team hasn’t announced anything on that front. The UCLA product is headed for a second opinion before there’ll be an official timetable.

More to come.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/...o-espinal.html

[757690]

I like this move, but Espinal is coming off a down year. Hopefully he bounces back.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Espinal will likely play a platoon role at 2B, as he's pretty solid against LHP. He'll obviously spell EDLC at SS as well.

No power to speak of, but perhaps the GABP can help with that.

Decent #9 hitter and very good defensively across the diamond.

I'd guess he solves the issues the Reds have with infield depth:
C Tyler Stephenson
C Luke Maile
1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
2B Jonathan India
SS EDLC
3B Jeimer Candelario
UT Santiago Espinal
LF Spencer Steer
CF Stuart Fairchild
CF/RF Will Benson
RF Jake Fraley
1B/DH Mike Ford
1B/OF Nick Martini

I'd prefer JD Martinez, as mth has mentioned a few (dozen) times, but doubt they'll spring for that type of guy-- even if he's exactly the right move to stymie the injuries to Friedl and McLain.

[JCM11]

Well I guess this is the Kyle Farmer type player I wanted them to get. Espinal hits LHP reasonably well(.757 ops) and plays 3B, SS, and 2B. McElvain is a decent pitching prospect, but there's at least 10 guys in the system ahead of him.

[Mitri]

Nice fit. Good move.

I hope this isn't because they expect McLain to need surgery or whatever, but they needed another guy to play up the middle either way.

[Kilgore_Trout]

Nice fit. Good move.

I hope this isn't because they expect McLain to need surgery or whatever, but they needed another guy to play up the middle either way.

That’s my fear. Solid move nonetheless.

[mth123]

This was a move they needed to make even if everyone was available.

He's going to play a lot more than I'd like, but they needed a guy like this before the injuries/suspension.

[Ron Madden]

That the Reds went outside the organization for another infielder wouldn’t seem to point towards them expecting McLain’s return in short order.

While they await official word on his injury, they add a quality defender who can serve as a depth piece at any of second base, third base or shortstop.

Espinal has plus contact skills with below-average power. His career .273/.331/.367 batting line is right around league average, as measured by wRC+, but he’s coming off a down year.

Espinal has plus contact skills with below-average power. His career .273/.331/.367 batting line is right around league average, as measured by wRC+, but he’s coming off a down year.

More To Come
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/...o-espinal.html

[WrongVerb]

I'm a fan. I've mock traded for him several times in the last few years.

[redsfan9988]

Nice move for a solid player.

Also, this probably means we’ll be seeing McLain in 2025.

[NebraskaRed]

For whatever it's worth, this is not a move they would have made a couple years ago. They would have just gone into the season with whoever they had in house, or found someone on the scrap heap.

[757690]

For whatever it's worth, this is not a move they would have made a couple years ago. They would have just gone into the season with whoever they had in house, or found someone on the scrap heap.

That’s what I like most about this move. A need was created and filled in a day. It makes me have a faith that the Reds front office has faith in this season.

[Jaysland Red]

This is an excellent move. I’ve watched Espinal a lot and he is a solid player. Yes, he’s coming off a down year but the same could be said of most of the Jays’ position players.

[Ron Madden]

With infield depth thin, the Reds trade for infielder Santiago Espinal

When the Cincinnati Reds were running low on infield depth, president of baseball operations Nick Krall put together a deal in a day to add a reinforcement.

The Reds traded for veteran infielder Santiago Espinal, a 2022 All-Star with a career 96 OPS+ (around league average for his position). They traded prospect Chris McElvain to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Story Here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb...al/ar-BB1kfvhO

[kaldaniels]

For the love of all things holy Reds PR team…please refrain from referring to him as “All-Star….”

Please?