The Cincinnati Reds made another set of roster moves today prior to the second game with the San Francisco Giants, calling up Alejo Lopez from Triple-A, optioning Michael Siani back to Triple-A, and designating right-handed reliever Tony Santillan for assignment.
Alejo Lopez was not on the Reds 40-man roster, so calling him up required adding him to both the 40 and 26-man rosters. He had spent the entire season up to this point in Triple-A with Louisville. He got out to a slow start, hitting just .232 in the first 30 games of the season. He caught fire after that, hitting .340/.439/.495 in the next 55 games (through the end of July) with 33 walks and just 37 strikeouts. Lopez, though, has cooled down in August. In 24 games this month he’s hit just .205, but he’s walked 22 times with just 15 strikeouts in 114 plate appearances. If Cincinnati’s looking to add contact to the roster, he’s the guy who can help do that.
Michael Siani’s stay in Cincinnati – at least for now – was a bit short lived. He did play in three games, but only got one trip to the plate – he walked. He did come off of the bench twice after that and in one game he took over in left field and in the other he was used as a pinch runner and scored.
Tony Santillan missed a full year as he recovered from a back injury suffered in the summer of 2022. When he returned to Cincinnati he only remained with the team for a few days before he was optioned to Triple-A. He was called back up two weeks later and made one appearance before heading back to Louisville and that’s where he remained. In the 15 games after he was optioned back down he posted an ERA of 11.48 and has as many walks as strikeouts – 13 – in 13.1 innings pitched. He’s still capable of throwing in the mid-to-upper 90’s, but his control simply hasn’t been there.
Pretty much expected with Santillan. Calling up Lopez? I doubt he plays much.
After seeing 10+ strikeouts per game on a regular basis everyone should be happy to see Lopez return. He can play 2B and Steer can move back to LF.
I always have liked Lopez. At least he makes contact
That’s about all Lopez does …
Per MLBTR:
Lopez will join the Reds for a third straight season. He’s hit for a solid but empty .262 average in 179 career plate appearances, getting on base at a below-average .307 clip with just a .321 slugging percentage. He has big league experience at second base, third base and in the outfield corners. He’ll give the Reds a contact-oriented bench bat who’s fanned in just 14.6% of his career plate appearances but also walked at a well below-average 5% clip.
He doesn’t get on base and he doesn’t hit for power. Other than that he’s OK.
Lopez this year .282/.390/.793 7HR 24 Doubles 2 Triples 38RBI 15SB He’s a switch hitter who walks nearly as many times as he strikes out. He plays 2B, SS, 3B, RF, and LF. He’s the perfect bench guy.
Sometimes RLN posters can be so confused.
Reds still calling up random guys over Barrero. His time in Cincy seems all but over.
Unrelated, but I wonder if the Reds make a claim on Gioloto?
How’s Hopkins still in San Francisco – geeze man this dude is brutal and still on the roster apparently
That is a good question.
I’m convinced Hopkins is still on the roster for one of two reasons:
a) Handedness
b) They’re planning to send him down when they activate Fraley, and if they send him down now it will require a lot more thought.
Why would you make a claim for someone with an era around 9 since the trade deadline?
Because Lodolo isn’t coming back this year, Abbott is running out of gas, the Reds can’t burn their bullpen with more ‘bullpen games’, and Greene is still returning from injury.
Also, Giolito has pitched better than Livey & Richardson since the deadline (and has been better than them on the whole year).
Many wanted to give away value for him. Now the Reds could have him for nothing.
Lopez isn’t a “random guy.” He’s played for the Reds the last two seasons, can play second base (which would free Steer to play any number of other positions), and has a higher career OPS than Barrero. And, as noted in the article above, he’s been having a good year in AAA. It’s fine to think Barrero would have been a better choice because he seems like he ought to be the better hitter (although in the majors he hasn’t been), but there’s no reason to act as if Lopez is some guy they just found on the street.
Good comments and accurate.
I think Barerro is Winter trade bait.
Not much sense in bringing him up to remind folks of his prodigious K rate.
I’m happy he’s doing well in AAA but I’m not ready to risk any of potential value to test that out.
His 2022 ABs were brutal beyond description.
Beyond even what EDLC has often been showing and Elly ABs have been essentially unwatchable.
Giolito has been HORRIBLE for the Angels, but the Reds should claim him up all the same if they can. Regardless of how well he pitches, claiming him is better than trading for him, no? Wouldn’t be a bad idea to claim Renfroe, too.
Tough to see Tony S go. He was a promising Young Turk in the organization before the back injury.
His rehab seemed to be long and slow and ultimately ineffective.
He’s still young enough to hopefully rebound and carry on somewhere.
I’ve always been a fan of Lopez but realize he’s had little or no consistent opportunity with the Reds and with Bell, likely little more.
He has tended to make contact which could be a good influence on the grip ‘n rippers dominating the lineup.
Was this Krall’s call? Likely so.
For all the RLN rants about the unacceptability of double digit Ks every night, what is more alarming is Bell’s seeming acceptance of it.
You’d think in one post game interview he’d address the issue and say something to the order of “We’ve got to cut this S…. out!”
But of course, I’m hoping to hit the Lotto, too.
Santillan is from Seguin, TX, down the road from me. Nice town. Awesome bbq.
That TS might have put on some tonnage during his convalescence is entirely understandable.
“For all the RLN rants about the unacceptability of double digit Ks every night, what is more alarming is Bell’s seeming acceptance of it.”
Yep. No fundamentals of hitting required seemingly.
There used to be a time when if you couldn’t make contact and kept swinging and missing, you would try a bunt every now and then to help see the ball better. Goodness, forbid you become a base runner instead of a no HR whiff king.
It’s alarming that Bell doesn’t call out his players in front of the media?
Yeah, no.
Call out individual players in front of the media?
Of course not.
That’s a red herring (pun intended).
But to acknowledge the 500lb gorilla in the room?
Of course.
There are many ways an intelligent and articulate manager can identify the problem, acknowledge it and communicate that to the press without singling out an individual.
“We need to work on X.”
“We need to work on Y.”
It’s not so hard to wrap your head around.
Don’t really know what is said behind closed doors.
“Don’t really know what is said behind closed doors.”
We DO know whatever he’s doing is not working.
If you want to have contact, then keep Henry Ramos up in MLB. I’m pleased with Alejo Lopez too. He’s not such a baseball young rookie. Takes a long time to grow into the MLB pants and some are much too young for it.
Lopez was absolutely on FIRE at AAA a few years back and did get called up, but didn’t do much in the Show.
As I recall he went 5-5 one game and didn’t see much playing time after that.
If Bell isn’t addressing the strikeout problem in his pressers, doesn’t some fault lie with our feckless beat writers? Ask the question!!
Cowboy – “You play and you hit. Why wouldn’t the manager put you in the lineup the next day?”
Hahaha A question David Bell could be asked often. 🙂
You know as a base all player than softball player for 50 years I get SICK of hearing REDS say RUNNING OUT of GAS! No other teams players RUN OUT of GAS!