Ewry Espinal

Santiago Espinal signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster after a strong spring training. However, he has struggled significantly through the first month-and-a-half of the regular season. The Dodgers restructured his contract to extend the deadline for releasing him without paying the remainder of his salary. In a critical ninth-inning at-bat against the Houston Astros on May 5, 2026, with the tying run on first base and one out, Espinal struck out on three straight pitches in what was described as "legitimately one of the worst at bats" by observers. He failed to challenge a fastball that was above the strike zone and swung at a low-and-inside sweeper. The Dodgers kept him on the roster when Mookie Betts returned, but his roster spot remains precarious with Kiké Hernández eligible to return on May 24. Espinal is out of minor league options and would need to be designated for assignment if released.