Story by
Rangers Release Former Dodgers Infielder After Short MiLB Stint
- Story by
- Rangers Release Former Dodgers Infielder After Short MiLB Stint
The Texas Ranger released former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Santiago Espinal following a one-month MiLB stint Wednesday.
Espinal signed with the Rangers at the beginning of July, immediately heading to Triple-A upon his signing. He made the taxi squad the day before his release, but didn't appear in MLB during his time with the organization. The infielder played 11 games with Triple-A Round Rock, recording 11 hits in 42 at-bats. He slashed .262/.333/.310 for a .643 OPS, also logging six RBIs without a home run.
Santiago Espinal who was in Arlington on taxi squad yesterday has been granted his release
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 28, 2026
Espinal played with the Dodgers earlier in the season, first joining the team on a minor league deal at the beginning of spring training. He had an impressive Cactus League campaign, posting a 1.059 OPS through 19 games during the spring, and broke camp with the Dodgers—earning an Opening Day roster spot.
Advertisement
Espinal played 38 games for the Dodgers this season, posting a .651 OPS through his 36 games with the team. The Dodgers initially let him go into free agency after designating him for assignment upon Kiké Hernandez 's return from injury May 28, but re-signed him the following day after Hernandez landed back on the injured list.
Espinal remained with the team for a couple more weeks, but he eventually went back into free agency June 18 after the Dodgers DFA'd him for a second time. He remained on the market for a couple weeks before joining the Rangers.
Jun 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Santiago Espinal (21) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Is Santiago Espinal a Good Player?
Espinal, despite his obvious lack of slug, has put together a solid major league career through parts of seven seasons. He has an All-Star appearance under his belt, coming in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays , and has an OPS+ of 85, which puts him slightly below league average over the course of his career.
Advertisement
The infielder certainly still has some has left in the tank as his time with the Dodgers saw him put up replacement level production, which is far better than he had done over the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds .
On top of his serviceable bat, Espinal has historically been strong in the field, showing off a plus glove for most of his MLB career.
Now a free agent once again, Espinal could serve as a solid depth piece for teams in need of a right handed bat—an in-demand archetype at this year's trade deadline.
The post Rangers Release Former Dodgers Infielder After Short MiLB Stint appeared first on LA Sports Report .
