The Cincinnati Reds made five different roster moves this afternoon prior to the start of their 3-game series with the San Francisco Giants. The first set of moves was to call up Graham Ashcraft from Triple-A Louisville and transfer left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to the 60-day injured list. Ashcraft was not on the 40-man roster and a spot needed to be cleared in order to add him. His time with the team in Toronto was as a “substitute player” due to COVID-related issues for others on the roster and thus it was not mandatory for him to be on the 40-man roster at the time. That’s no longer the case and so he had to be added.
The team also activated left-handed reliever Ross Detwiler from the bereavement list. With the addition of Detwiler and Ashcraft to the active roster, the team optioned reliever Jared Solomon and Colin Moran to Triple-A Louisville.
Graham Ashcraft will get the ball tonight and make the start for the Reds. In his only start this season in the big leagues he threw 4.1 innings of 2-run baseball against the Blue Jays in Toronto. In seven starts in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats this year he had posted a 1.65 ERA in 32.2 innings with 30 strikeouts and a minor league best 71.4% ground ball rate.
Having options doesn’t work out for players sometimes. That might be the case for Jared Solomon, who had allowed two runs in his 4.2 innings (3.86 ERA) while striking out six batters since being called up. He’s heading back to Triple-A Louisville now despite having performed when called upon.
Colin Moran will be joining Solomon on the trip to Louisville. Unlike Solomon, Moran has struggled this season. The corner infielder is hitting just .202/.284/.351 this season through 34 games.
Justin Wilson last pitched for the Reds on April 23rd. The left had thrown just 3.2 innings on the season, pitching in five games and allowing just one earned run while striking out seven batters without a walk. He won’t be eligible to return until June 23rd – though he can go on a rehab assignment earlier than that in preparation to return on that date.
No surprise on Moran but wonder when we will see Jake Bauers to hit for the Cincinnati reds this year or at all this year. He 26 of age and can’t be worst than Moran. Also I’m pretty sure can play outfield as well
Why? he’s a career 200 hitter with little to no power and a 30% strikeout rate. Keep him and Fraley in Triple A.
Jake Bauers is probably closer to being released than he is to getting time in Cincinnati. He’s a career .213 hitter in the big leagues who is currently hitting .156 in Triple-A.
Next transaction(s) should be coming soon with Minor and Barrero. Minor pitching for Louisville tonight and is in line to pitch the second game in Boston on regular rest. Gutierrez makes his start tomorrow and will then be replaced by Minor before the trip to Boston. Gutierrez should be sent down to Louisville to work on his stuff regardless of what happens tomorrow. Ashcraft a better option moving forward. Barrero should get as many ABs in Louisville this weekend and then be added to the Reds with Lopez being optioned. Louisville goes to Gwinnett on Monday 5/30, so Barrero joining the Reds going to Boston might be a better option. It’ll be 8 games with 30-35 ABs for his rehab assignment. I guess decision makers will determine if that’s enough. Does he come back as the starter at SS or as a backup to Farmer as a utility player? This answer will determine the length of his rehab assignment.
Gutierrez should go to AAA to work out what ever his issue is.
Barrero had no spring training, so a bit more time in AAA might make sense. If we want him to be the everyday (pick a position), then he needs to be coming up ready to face MLB pitching. I’d wait until the 10th to call him up, assuming he’s hitting well.
I’m a huge fan of the Uber prospects. Not all “prospects’ but the Uber ones or the guys with a hit tool- Joey Votto and Jesse Winker. I followed Jay Bruce from the day he was drafted. Stephenson, Senzel, India, Greene, Lodolo. Barrero and McClain are my next young guns. I read Doug to get updates on the Young arms in AA/A.
That said, there is no need to rush Barrero. I want him ready to play SS every day for the Reds. Bell was gushing yesterday about Farmer and his intangibles and how you cant quantitate how important he is to the team. That tells me Barrero isnt coming up yet. I would give Barrero 100 at bats in AAA and let him get his rhythm and confidence. These things tend to work themselves out, especially as we hit June and July on a last place team going nowhere. It’s a long year.
I guess it’s the difference of 2 theories. I slightly favor facing MLB level pitching prepares you better for MLB pitching. The reason is, at the AAA level, there are many journeymen pitchers who are not MLB caliber and that’s why they’re in AAA. Look at the pitchers in Louisville. How many of them are actually on their way up? Most are hanging on. Of course, there are younger guys like Lodolo or Ashcraft making their way up the chain. I totally understand building ABs at the lower level to prepare and it should depend individually with each player. I just feel that Barrero has done everything at AAA already and that it doesn’t need as long for him.
I agree. Why Hunter Greene needs to go out their every 5th day and figure it out. Barrero has to deal with the “Farmer” situation who is Skip Schumacher and a political football.
Love Farmer. But Bell and a segment of Reds fans love their Farmer beyond rationality. A career .251 hitter and OPS .702 and turning 32 with a career WAR below Zach Cozart’s donkey All star season. Give Barrero another month in AAA and then he plays every day if he is healthy and raking.
Hopefully, the last we see of Moran. And if Barrero isn’t going to start, leave him in Louisville.
Barrero has no where to play at the moment. Farmer is rock solid at ss and the outfield is covered as well. I would say though bring him up and let him learn how to be a mlb player from watching someone like Votto or Farmer. He can start two or three games a week. He doesn’t have to produce this year. Just learn and move forward. I mean he isn’t gonna “save” the team this season.
I politely disagree. I think he starts at SS with Farmer sliding over to 3rd. Moose becomes full time DH. Drury at 2B and Reynolds the utility IF that can play all IF positions. Bench then becomes Garcia, Reynolds, Aquino and Almora. No LH hitter off the bench against RH starter as we’ll only have JV, Moose and Naquin. This may cause problems for Bell though. Lol
I didn’t think about Farmer to 3rd. Heck I forgot he can play 3rd. I like the thought @SteveO..
It would cause a problem for almost all ML managers
Farmer can play 2nd and 1st when playing a lefty.
Farmer also can play catcher and 2nd base but been awhile he did both since his time at Dodgers and reds
Don’t forget Schrock will be coming back
I suppose it is inevitable that Wilson would be moved to the 60 day IL. He joins quite a list of players that had muscle soreness, minor inflammation, tightness, etc. that somehow morphed into likely 60 day cases including rehab (India, Sims, Minor, Overton, Solano, Schrock, Duarte). Same as last year, hard to understand. The Reds also can’t seem to find a good LHP after Garrett with “try outs” by Perez, Sanmartin, Duke, Doolittle, and Diehl. So now, its Detweiler. Haven’t even heard of him as he has only pitched one inning. From what I have seen from the pitching staff this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does well.
@DD, Ive been lobbying for the Reds to invest in an elite lefty bullpen arm forever. They are hard to come buy but they are weapons. I saw Gregory Soto Tigers blow 99 against Joey Votto in 2020 and wanted the Reds to trade for him then and again last year when the bullpen was melting down about this time. Unfortunately, there’s no reason to invest money in finished big leaguers this year, so its more sorting. Hopefully this off-season we can start to have more dialogue about targeting proven big league assets.
Cionel Perez is doing well with Baltimore.
I know he had his troubles here but always liked what I saw out of him. Shame they let him get away.
Is it bad I completely forgot about Jack Wilson was even on the roster?
Moran had some opportunities. Didn’t realize he had an option left. Not sure how much playing time he’ll see at AAA regardless.
I think he has an advantage over guys like Bauers or Cordoba because he’s on the 40 man roster and should be the starting 1B in Louisville. They are hitting .156 and .169 respectively. Not many players tearing it up in Louisville.
MLB.com’s Reds 40-man roster lists 48 players. Subtract the seven on the 60-day IL and that leaves 41. Who else doesn’t belong?
Reds gonna fight every team
Pham and Peterson had the dugouts emptying in batting practice.