The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially parted ways with veteran infielder Santiago Espinal after he declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City and elected free agency.
Espinal was designated for assignment earlier this week and, after clearing waivers, had the option to remain in the organization. Instead, he chose to test the open market.
The 31-year-old joined the Dodgers on a minor league contract before the 2026 season and impressed during spring training, earning a spot on the Opening Day roster.
He spent much of the season serving as a versatile bench option, briefly losing his roster spot when Kiké Hernández returned from the injured list before being brought back following Hernández’s subsequent injury.
During his two stints with Los Angeles, Espinal appeared in 36 games and hit .268 with one home run, seven RBIs, and a .651 OPS. He also enjoyed a productive second stretch with the club, batting .400 over 15 at-bats.
With Tommy Edman returning from the injured list, the Dodgers once again designated Espinal for assignment, ultimately leading to his departure. Manager Dave Roberts praised Espinal’s contributions but acknowledged that roster construction made it difficult to keep him on the team.
Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2016, Espinal later built his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, earning an All-Star selection in 2022 before spending two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds.
Across 614 major league games, he owns a .261 batting average with 21 home runs, 167 RBIs, and a .664 OPS.
Espinal now enters free agency seeking a new opportunity, ending a brief but valuable tenure with the Dodgers.
