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The Texas Rangers placed shortstop Corey Seager on the injured list on Wednesday with back pain.
This is Seager's third IL stint of the year. After the injury, they recalled versatile defender Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock.
Apparently, the Rangers don't feel that's enough to cover the infield while Seager is out.
On Thursday, the AL West club signed infielder Santiago Espinal to a minor league contract, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News.
Espinal, an All-Star with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, can play any infield position excluding first base.
A few weeks ago, he was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He opted to test free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
In 36 games with Los Angeles, the 31-year-old managed a .268/.276/.375 slash line with a home run, seven RBIs, and a .651 OPS in 60 trips to the plate.
For now, he will serve as infield depth in the event an injury occurs to Smith or someone else, like third baseman Josh Jung.
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Obviously, the Rangers would prefer to have Seager healthy and in the lineup.
They'll have to manage without the two-time World Series MVP until his back heals up.
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