Blue Jays sign Danny Espinosa to minor-league deal

The Toronto Blue Jays and infielder Danny Espinosa have agreed to a minor-league deal, the team announced this morning after a report from Gregor Chisholm of MLB,com. Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports first reported Espinosa arriving to Blue Jays’ camp.

This marks the second time this offseason that Espinosa inked a minor-league deal, after the 30-year-old joined Yankees’ camp earlier this winter. However, after the Yanks made a trade for infielder Brandon Drury and signed free agent Neil Walker, Espinosa was no longer a necessity in the Bronx.

After Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was diagnosed with a bone spur in his right heel, the team needed some infield depth. Enter Espinosa, who has experience playing both middle infield positions during his eight-year career.

Espinosa played in just 93 games last season for three different teams (the Angels, Mariners and Rays), and finished the year with a painful 43 OPS+, while slugging just .278. The best seasons of his career came during his time with the Nationals, when he hit a combined 38 home runs while stealing 37 bases in 2011 and 2012.

Despite Tulowitzki’s injury, which will keep him sidelined for Opening Day, the Blue Jays have infield depth that Espinosa will have to overcome if he wants to see major league playing time. Another former Yankee in Yangervis Solarte is currently the team’s backup second baseman ahead of Devon Travis, while Aledmys Diaz figures to handle shortstop duties until Tulowitzki’s return.