Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Swipes two bags Sunday
Rotowire
Espinal went 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Getting the start at second base and batting sixth, Espinal continued a strong start to his spring that's seen him go 7-for-14 at the plate with a homer and three steals. The 28-year-old is expected to begin the season in a bench role with Whit Merrifield shifting to second base, but if Merrifield's quad injury lingers over the next few weeks, Espinal could find himself in the Opening Day lineup.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Avoids arbitration with Toronto
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Espinal and the Blue Jays agreed on a one-year, $2.1 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The 28-year-old infielder busted onto the scene in 2022, batting .267 with seven homers, 51 RBI, 51 runs and six stolen bases over 135 games in a season during which he made his first All Star team. Espinal will likely operate as a utility option in 2023 with Whit Merrifield expected to be the Jays' primary second baseman, and he could start at multiple spots across the infield.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Returns from IL for postseason
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Espinal (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list and included on the Blue Jays' wild-card roster, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Espinal will return to the active roster just in time for the Blue Jays' wild-card series with the Mariners, which starts Friday. The 27-year-old missed the last couple weeks of the season while dealing with an oblique issue, but he'll now operate in a utility role for Toronto in the postseason. Espinal produced a .267 average with seven homers, 51 RBI, 51 runs and six stolen bases over 135 games during the regular season.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Prepping for potential playoff return
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Espinal (oblique) took live batting practice and was involved in infield drills during a workout Wednesday in Toronto, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Espinal won't be activated from the 10-day injured list in advance of the Blue Jays' season-closing doubleheader in Baltimore on Wednesday, but he looks like he could be a candidate for inclusion on Toronto's wild-card round roster in advance of the team's Game 1 matchup with the Mariners on Friday. If he shows enough progress in his recovery from the oblique strain for the Blue Jays to include him on the postseason roster, Espinal may have to settle for a utility role. While Espinal has been on the shelf since Sept. 22, Whit Merrifield has seized control of the keystone and has produced a monstrous 1.237 OPS over his last 10 contests.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Progressing toward activation
Rotowire
Espinal (oblique) hit off a pitching machine Sunday and is scheduled to face live pitching Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Espinal began running the bases Friday and is now ramping up his hitting program. The 27-year-old is already eligible to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list, and he could be back for the final game of the regular season Wednesday if he continues to progress with no issues.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Increasing activity
Rotowire
Espinal (oblique) has begun running the bases Friday and is ramping up baseball activity, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Espinal has been out of action since Sept. 21 when he was removed from a game early. He remains on the injured list, but the Blue Jays will be evaluating him on a day-to-day basis going forward.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Hitting off tee
Rotowire
Espinal (oblique) is doing some light baseball activity and hitting off a tee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Espinal has been on the injured list with a left oblique strain since Thursday, but it's encouraging that he's begun some light work after a few days. The Blue Jays hope that the 27-year-old will be able to return late in the regular season so he can prepare for postseason play, but it's not yet clear whether he'll have enough time to ramp up prior to Oct. 5.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Espinal was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain Thursday.
Espinal was removed from Wednesday's game against the Phillies due to side discomfort, and he'll miss at least a week and a half after being diagnosed with an oblique strain. Cavan Biggio and Whit Merrifield should see increased playing time at second base in Espinal's absence, while Otto Lopez was called up to provide additional depth.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Not in Thursday's lineup
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Espinal (side) isn't starting Thursday against the Rays.
Espinal exited Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia due to left side discomfort, and he'll be out of the lineup for at least one game. Cavan Biggio will take his place at the keystone and bat ninth.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Removed from game
Rotowire
Espinal was removed from Wednesday's game early due to left side discomfort.
Cavan Biggio came in to pinch hit for Espinal in the seventh inning. More updates will come on Espinal's status once the Blue Jays are able to get a better look at him.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Gets breather Friday
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Espinal isn't in the lineup Friday against Baltimore, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Espinal has gone 4-for-6 with two runs, an RBI and a walk over the last three games and will get a breather during Friday's series opener against the Orioles. Cavan Biggio will take over at the keystone and bat fifth.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Three hits, two runs scored in win
Rotowire
Espinal went 3-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Tampa Bay.
After going hitless in his previous eight at-bats, Espinal responded with three hits Wednesday. The multi-hit effort was his fourth of the month and raised his average to .268. He also came around to score twice, bringing his season-long run total to 50. While he's conceded playing time on occasion, Espinal has proven to be a reliable middle-infield option this season, especially in deeper fantasy leagues.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Sitting Game 2
Rotowire
Espinal is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays.
Espinal went 0-for-2 in Game 1 before being lifted for a pinch hitter during the seventh inning, and he'll remain on the bench for the nightcap. Cavan Biggio will start at the keystone in Game 2.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Not starting Monday
Rotowire
Espinal is on the bench Monday versus Tampa Bay, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
An 0-for-4 performance Sunday has Espinal hitting .269 with a .387 OBP in eight games since September began. Cavan Biggio enters the lineup to play second base Monday.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Takes seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Espinal is not in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup in Baltimore.
Espinal has now been absent for three of Toronto's last four games, including a couple games due to a hand injury, the result of a hit-by-pitch. He has just a .494 OPS over the last two weeks. Whit Merrifield will take over at second base and bat ninth while Espinal sits.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Not starting nightcap
Rotowire
Espinal isn't starting the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
Espinal returned to the lineup for Monday's matinee and went 0-for-3 with a run and a walk. Cavan Biggio is taking over at the keystone and batting sixth during Game 2.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Draws back into starting nine
Rotowire
Espinal (hand) will start at third base and bat ninth in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Orioles.
After sitting out out Sunday's 4-3 win over Pittsburgh due to a hand injury, Espinal is back in action for the series opener in Baltimore, albeit at a different position than usual with Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman serving as the Blue Jays' designated hitter in the matinee game. Chapman should settle back in at third base for the nightcap, leaving Espinal to fend off Cavan Biggio and Whit Merrifield for reps at the keystone over the final month of the season. Despite his status as a first-time All-Star, Espinal doesn't have much security atop the depth chart after slashing .247/.319/.318 thus far in the second half.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Espinal (hand) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Even though Espinal escaped with no structural damage to his left hand after being struck by a pitch in Saturday's 4-1 win, he'll be on the bench for the series finale while he recovers from a painful contusion. Cavan Biggio steps in at second base for Espinal, who can be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's doubleheader in Baltimore.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Hits two-run double
Rotowire
Espinal went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Friday's 4-0 win over Pittsburgh.
Espinal knocked in Cavan Biggio and Matt Chapman on a double in the fourth inning. They were the only runs of the game until Bo Bichette launched a two-run shot in the ninth. For Espinal, they were his first RBI since Aug. 18. He has had a rough stretch since then, going 3-for-21 until his two-hit outing Friday. The second baseman is slashing .268/.321/.378 on the season.
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Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Back on bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Espinal isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.
Espinal has gone 0-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout over his last three games and will head to the bench for the third time in the last four matchups. Whit Merrifield is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.
