Reds Acquire Santiago Espinal

[Bourgeois Zee]

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.

India is playing some good defense at 2B this season. He's +2 according to OAA. Those two runs saved rank 10th in baseball at the position (with STL's Donovan a LF and MIA's Lopez now primarily a SS).

Were I Krall, I wouldn't move him yet either.

IMO, he and Steer are interchangeable as players-- and they only likely need one of them. I'd deal the other for help at a difference position. (Think the Cardinals would trade Jordan Walker for India? I think they might.)

[mth123]

India is playing some good defense at 2B this season. He's +2 according to OAA. Those two runs saved rank 10th in baseball at the position (with STL's Donovan a LF and MIA's Lopez now primarily a SS).

Were I Krall, I wouldn't move him yet either.

IMO, he and Steer are interchangeable as players-- and they only likely need one of them. I'd deal the other for help at a difference position. (Think the Cardinals would trade Jordan Walker for India? I think they might.)

I see the logic, but India and Steer both get on base. The Reds need more guys who get on base, so I'd find room for both of them.

Jordan Walker is looking like a Hinds, Benson etc guy who Ks a lot and doesn't walk enough to offset it. The Cardinals, being an actual big-league franchise, weren't afraid to send him back down this year, which is exactly how the Reds should treat Benson, Marte, CES etc.

I wouldn't want the Reds to deal Steer for another out machine no matter how much upside he may have. I might deal other guys for him. Chase Petty and some A ball guys maybe, but I wouldn't subtract guys who get on base from the Reds roster right now.

[CaiGuy]

Espinal is as vanilla of a utility infielder as I can imagine...He's fine to have around on the bench but I have no idea why he warrants so much discussion and certainly don't understand the desire to see him in the starting lineup. He's 30 and has over 1300 MLB AB's, we know what he is at this point. If they want to keep him as a bench guy that's great.

[LiferJim]

Espinal is as vanilla of a utility infielder as I can imagine...He's fine to have around on the bench but I have no idea why he warrants so much discussion and certainly don't understand the desire to see him in the starting lineup. He's 30 and has over 1300 MLB AB's, we know what he is at this point. If they want to keep him as a bench guy that's great.

I think it’s because at this point he appears to be the best option, especially if you value defense. Both Candy and Marte have looked horrible defensively, so it should be considered IMO. Candies fielding percentage looks decent, because he played a great deal of time at first base, but at third base he was bad. Marte’s defense is a whole another story and the kid simply doesn’t appear ready offensively or defensively. No, Espinal won’t hit a bunch of home runs, but he is a low strikeout guy, who at age 30 puts the ball in play and plays outstanding defense. Our pitchers deserve better defense than what they have gotten this year.


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[westofyou]

Espinal is as vanilla of a utility infielder as I can imagine...He's fine to have around on the bench but I have no idea why he warrants so much discussion and certainly don't understand the desire to see him in the starting lineup. He's 30 and has over 1300 MLB AB's, we know what he is at this point. If they want to keep him as a bench guy that's great.

He certainly serves his purpose. But if your team is giving the Espinal's of the world 300 plus PA's then you're trending in the wrong direction. Appreciate stability, respect and all that, but certainly don't become enamored with something based on that alone in a lost season.

[RiverfrontRed]

Is Espinal equal to or better than India - as a total player?

[757690]

Espinal is as vanilla of a utility infielder as I can imagine...He's fine to have around on the bench but I have no idea why he warrants so much discussion and certainly don't understand the desire to see him in the starting lineup. He's 30 and has over 1300 MLB AB's, we know what he is at this point. If they want to keep him as a bench guy that's great.

If the Reds acquired a true middle of the lineup bat, they can afford to play Espinal as 3B.

Contending teams start a light hitting SS or CF all the time. With Elly at SS, Espinal at 3b would be that light hitting, plus defender in the lineup, just not a the standard position.

[LeatherPants]

Is Espinal equal to or better than India - as a total player?

If you normalize playing time they are roughly even using bWAR.

Espinal in about 1200 PA’s has 6.2 career bWAR and India has 7 bWAR in about 1900 PA’s. India has the better bat and Espinal has the better glove and is way more versatile. If Espinal goes through arbitration this offseason the money is going to be about the same for 2025.

[westofyou]

If the Reds acquired a true middle of the lineup bat, they can afford to play Espinal as 3B.

Contending teams start a light hitting SS or CF all the time. With Elly at SS, Espinal at 3b would be that light hitting, plus defender in the lineup, just not a the standard position.

No, stop somebody... this man is committing a crime... someone call the police!!

[mth123]

Espinal is as vanilla of a utility infielder as I can imagine...He's fine to have around on the bench but I have no idea why he warrants so much discussion and certainly don't understand the desire to see him in the starting lineup. He's 30 and has over 1300 MLB AB's, we know what he is at this point. If they want to keep him as a bench guy that's great.

Because they don't have anybody any better, so he enters 2025 as the starter. They have a number of candidates who will be in AA/AAA in 2025 (Marte, CES, Collier, Stewart, Arroyo), so investing in an acquisition to play ahead of Espinal seems a poor choice when the available investment dollars are desperately needed in the OF. When one of those young candidates looks like they would be worth giving the PAs, Espinal can go to the bench. Hopefully that happens by June of 2025, but right now, I don't want to start 2025 with any of those guys in the big-league line-up. I'd prefer winning and Espinal provides the best choice to win IMO until proven otherwise.

[mth123]

Is Espinal equal to or better than India - as a total player?

No, but India will likely be the full-time DH and lead-off hitter. Has nothing to do with 3B.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Because they don't have anybody any better, so he enters 2025 as the starter. They have a number of candidates who will be in AA/AAA in 2025 (Marte, CES, Collier, Stewart, Arroyo), so investing in an acquisition to play ahead of Espinal seems a poor choice when the available investment dollars are desperately needed in the OF. When one of those young candidates looks like they would be worth giving the PAs, Espinal can go to the bench. Hopefully that happens by June of 2025, but right now, I don't want to start 2025 with any of those guys in the big-league line-up. I'd prefer winning and Espinal provides the best choice to win IMO until proven otherwise.

If the Reds sign, say, Matt Chapman, they can live with a lesser OF acquisition-- perhaps Amed Rosario (109 OPS+ career) or Jonathan India and Fraley (101 OPS+ career) in RF and Steer in LF.

You can get there a multitude of ways.

[LeatherPants]

If the Reds sign, say, Matt Chapman, they can live with a lesser OF acquisition-- perhaps Amed Rosario (109 OPS+ career) or Jonathan India and Fraley (101 OPS+ career) in RF and Steer in LF.

You can get there a multitude of ways.

A Rosario, Steer, India outfield would be something to see defensively, but if they could sign Chapman I'd live with it. (Spoiler alert, they aren't signing Chapman, but man I wish they would)

[westofyou]

A Rosario, Steer, India outfield would break the game

[LeatherPants]

A Rosario, Steer, India outfield would break the game

I imagine a lot of falling down and possibly heat stroke.