The Reds announced today that they have non-tendered three players: Ryan LaMarre (OF), Pedro Villarreal (SP/RP), and Ryan Mattheus (RP). This means that those players become free agents effective immediately. The deadline to non-tender players is tonight at 11:59 PM. Mark Sheldon reported that the Reds could chose to bring all three players back on minor league deals for 2016.
The Reds also announced that they will offer contracts to Aroldis Chapman, J.J. Hoover, and Zack Cozart. Those come as no surprise. Aroldis Chapman could certainly still end up getting traded however. Zack Cozart said today on ESPN 1530 “I feel like I should be ready for spring training.”
Ryan LaMarre was the Reds second round pick in 2010. LaMarre made his MLB debut on August 22nd this year. LaMarre however went just 2 for 25, with a slash line of .080/.080/.080. He did look pretty good defensively. LaMarre could certainly come back on minor league deal though, as he was DFA’d back in 2014 to make room for Raisel Iglesias.
Pedro Villarreal was drafted by the Reds in the seventh round of 2008. Villarreal has appeared in 42 games in the majors between 2012-2015 with the Reds, and is coming off a very solid year. In 50.0 innings in 2015, Villarreal had a 3.42 ERA, pitching in many different roles. Villarreal was promoted to the MLB from AAA on four separate occasions in 2015. That lead our own Grant Freking to write In praise of Pedro Villarreal, the Reds’ unsung Garbage Man.
Ryan Mattheus was claimed off waivers from the Angels back in May. He had a 4.09 ERA in 55.0 IP for the Reds.