It was a very busy afternoon for the Cincinnati Reds as they made a handful of roster moves before the start of their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.
The team designated outfielder Phillip Ervin for assignment, recalled right-handed pitcher José De León from the Prasco Park alternate roster, activated right-handed starter Anthony DeSclafani from the paternity list, placed Wade Miley on the injured list with a left shoulder sprain, and signed right-handed pitcher Jay Jackson to a minor league contract and assigned him to the 60-man player pool and put him on the alternate roster at Prasco Park.
There’s a whole lot of stuff to get to here, so let’s tackle it one move at a time. Wade Miley was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder sprain. This may be significant, or it may not be. What’s important to note here is that, as Will Carroll always points out, a sprain is a tear, and Wade Miley – according to the Reds – has a sprained left shoulder. Of course, it’s also worth noting that just about any pitcher alive has something going on in their arm that if you really looked for it, you could probably find. Still, the words shoulder and sprain being together are never good. We’ll have to wait and see on this one.
Last night saw Miley throw 4.0 shutout innings in Milwaukee. His outing, however, only lasted that long because the lefty alerted manager David Bell that he was tiring. That led to the remaining three innings going to the bullpen as the team completed the Thursday sweep of the double header. Unfortunately, the tiring aspect of the outing may have been a sign that something wasn’t quite right in his shoulder.
The team activated right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani from paternity leave. This is good news. Given that he was activated, it’s being assumed by the author of this article that everyone involved is healthy and doing well.
Phillip Ervin has been designated for assignment. The outfielder simply hasn’t hit this season. He was 3-35 coming into the day – that’s a .086 average – and all three of his hits were singles. Before this year, he had spent parts of the previous three seasons with the Reds and was essentially a league average hitter as he posted a 97 OPS+ while hitting .262/.326/.438. Things just never got going for Ervin in 2020.
José De León is returning to the big leagues again. The right-handed pitcher had made one appearance this season for Cincinnati. It didn’t go well as he was charged with eight runs – all earned – in 1.2 innings while walking four (one intentionally) and striking out three. He’s been pitching at Prasco Park this year when he wasn’t on the big league roster or taxi squad for some road trips.
The Reds also announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Jay Jackson. The 32-year-old has pitched in parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues. Last year he posted a 4.45 ERA in 30.1 innings with Milwaukee, striking out 47 batters with 18 walks. This season he was pitching in Japan, throwing 7.0 innings for Chiba Lotte. He had pitched in Japan from 2016-2018, and has a career 2.16 ERA over there in 183.0 innings as a reliever.
Any updates on Senzel, is he done for the year? This offense needs him especially Akiyama and Castellanos. Senzel makes everybody around him better that’s why he was the best offensive player out of his draft.
The team can’t talk about him unless he gives them permission. You won’t be hearing much at all about his status.
That has a strange, ominous feel to it, Doug. Do we know anything at all about him? Is he injured?
I hope DeLeon, and his stache, are used more judiciously this time around.
Too bad about Miley. He most likely won’t be back in 2020. Too bad about Ervin but he played his way to a DFA.
Good to have DeSclafani back. I Don’t really understand the move to pick up a journeyman RH reliever when they are so short on LH relievers. Makes zero sense.
RE: Votto, there is more to this story than meets the eye. This looks a lot like an internal suspension instead of the fertilizer that Bell is shoveling. When Votto got ejected the other night, he must of said something very foul to either the umpire or to Bell when Bell went out to home plate. My inclination is to think Votto’s frustration was at such a high level he said something very disrespectful to Bell after Bell came out to the field
I think you’re reading way too much into it. It’s probably a lot more simple than that: He’s hitting .141 over the last month. His manager is giving him some time off.
Maybe. But I Don’t think so. I think there is more to this. But we’ll probably never know.
You may be right that it’s just a simple thing but then again things began to happen after Votto got kicked out. Maybe he did say some things to Bell and management that didn’t sit well with them. Seems like some people have kinda woken up and things are moving either way. Who knows?
Followed the Reds for years and they are my team, but have noticed a blind eye in favor of Votto the past 3 years. He was one of the best hitters in baseball for several years but has weighed heavy on the payroll and performance sense his new contract. Would he accept a trade to a Canadian team. Really hate to see him going downhill and hurting the team the last couple of years.
If you’re looking for anything beyond the obvious reason Votto is sitting, I would think it more likely that Votto himself asked out and the club is providing appropriate cover. But really, I agree with Doug.
He’s out of options and will be arbitration eligible. If he clears waivers and stays on at Prasco, the most likely scenario is he will be non-tendered as he is a 5th outfielder at best. It’s a bit of a shame, but this is probably the last time we will see him on the Reds.
Did Cody Reed clear waivers righ now? He was released?
Reed to the Rays.
Explains only 4 innings last night
I’d leave Greene to his development. He hasn’t been above Lo-A, if I’m correct. The one time he did see higher level minor league hitters, in the Futures Game throwing over 100, he was touched up pretty well.
Don’t mind Reed going I’ve never been a fan. We got something for him instead of nothing.
Ervin I’m a little surprised about but with all the OF’ers this team has I am ok with that too.
De Leon was decent last season. This season you can’t really judge since he only pitched I think in one outing. Glad to have Disco back.
The DFAs of both Reed and Ervin are both signals that winning is the priority, not continuing to hope that players with potential will eventually develop. I was a bit surprised that Ervin was DFAd for the return of DeSclafani. I was anticipating that Nate Jones would be the one to go to make room for Disco.
Getting closer to “Bell Proofing” the roster. 🙂