The Toronto Blue Jays are sending infielder Santiago Espinal to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league RHP Chris McElvain the clubs announced.
Espinal, a career utility infielder capable of playing 2B/SS/3B comfortably, will join an upstart Reds squad in search of their first playoff berth since 2020. With Jonathan India, Elly De La Cruz, and Jeimer Candelario expected to start at those respective positions in 2024, Espinal projects to play a similar role with his new club.
The 29 year old hit .248 last season for the Blue Jays, while scoring 30 runs, and driving in another 25 at the plate. Named to the 2022 All-Star Game, Espinal is a serviceable, if unspectacular player who will add depth to the Reds lineup, and comes at a modest $2.75M price tag.
With Espinal out of the lineup, 27 year old second baseman Ernie Clement is expected to break camp with the big league squad this spring. Currently hitting .375 with 8 RBIs, 3 HRs, and sporting a 1.080 OPS mark through 40 spring training plate appearances, the Rochester native adds some more pop to the Jays lineup for the upcoming season.
Coming back the other way in the deal is 23 year old pitcher Chris McElvain, who posted a 5-5 record across 23 games of single A ball last season. The righty posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.313 WHIP with 87 K’s in 96IP between Dayton and Daytona.
While he’s still viewed as a project, McElvain adds another intriguing arm to the Jays farm system, while also freeing up a much needed roster spot for Clement who was out of club options at this stage of his career.
Toronto is next in action Friday against the Boston Red Sox, while Cincinnati will will take on the Oakland Athletics.
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