The Rays have outrighted infielder Danny Espinosa, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). His 40-man roster spot will go to lefty Xavier Cedeno, who is set to be activated from the 60-day DL.
Espinosa, 30, saw limited action in Tampa Bay late in the season after a brief stop with the Mariners. He spent the first half of the year receiving regular time with the Angels — who acquired him from the Nationals over the offseason — but never came around at the plate. All told, the eight-year MLB veteran has stumbled to a .173/.245/.278 batting line this year.
The switch-hitting Espinosa has never consistently produced at the plate, though he delivers a good bit of home run power for a middle infielder and has posted several seasons of near-average hitting despite his swing-and-miss proclivities. He’s a gifted up-the-middle defender and good baserunner, though, so he doesn’t have to hit all that much to be useful.
Clearly, though, the offensive struggles this year were so significant that it was hard for Espinosa to hold down a roster spot. It’s perhaps still conceivable he could land a guaranteed deal for 2018, though odds are he’ll have to settle for a minor-league deal and a chance to earn a job with an infield-needy team in camp.
He needs a trip to the indy league Patriots.
You nailed it! Atlantic Leagu
Starting shortstop for my Padres next season
Is this guy’s player comp “Rich man’s Brendan Ryan ?
Yes but not as versatile
And Espinosa has more power, so basically the only similarity they have is their defensive ability
Brendan Ryan can’t grow a great beard
Always liked his beard! Never should have shaved it.
We need someone to give us some hokey modern stats to explain why he’s good even with that atrocious batting line.
He had a bWAR of 1.7 last year even though he was 21% worse than the league average hitter…I’m not saying he’s someone I’d want on my team but I’m playing along anyway
Hokey modern stats are down on him too. What you actually need is something to balance out that salt.
Defense counts. He’s a good defensive player. That’s the “modern hokey stat” I think you’re looking for. Although I think even in like 1920 teams understood that defense counts.
I’d take him on my Wednesday night softball team if he’s still looking for a job next year.
He is a tremendous defensive player, smart, cannon for an arm. On the Angels this season, he and Simmons were an excellent double-play combo.
The occasional power is supposed to make up for the otherwise absence of hitting, but the power never showed up in Seattle or Tampa, either. But his glove and arm will get him an invite this Spring somewhere.