The Cincinnati Reds traded for utility man Connor Joe yesterday, acquiring him from the San Diego Padres where he had been in Triple-A and giving up a Double-A reliever in Andrew Moore. Today Joe is joining the Reds in Houston to take the place on the roster of Jake Fraley. He is heading to the 10-day injured list with left calf tenderness. That move is retroactive to May 7th.
The injured list for Cincinnati just continues to get larger and larger. Pitchers Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson had Tommy John surgery and are going to miss the entire season. But beyond those two the team also has Carson Spiers, Sam Moll, Rhett Lowder, Hunter Greene, and Ian Gibaut on the injured list among the pitching staff. Among the position players the team has Tyler Callihan on the 60-day injured list, and then Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, and now Jake Fraley on the 10-day injured list. That’s 12 players. And it’s 10 players that the Reds weren’t planning on being injured when they began spring training.
As for where Connor Joe fits in, it’s likely that he’ll be on the bench most of the time. As a corner outfielder and first baseman, he’s kind of competing with Spencer Steer as that “rover”, but he also has to compete with Santiago Espinal in left field some days, and then with Rece Hinds and Will Benson in right field on some days when Gavin Lux and Austin Hays aren’t playing out there. It’s just tough to see where exactly he’s going to find much playing time – even with the roster as thing as it happens to be right now.
Jake Fraley can probably return the day he’s eligible, which will be May 16th. He was initially in the starting lineup last night before being scratched. If he were going to likely need a while to recover then it’s tough to believe that he would have been penciled in yesterday afternoon. But we’ve seen how things work out when assuming…. and what it makes me.
How long has Fraley been battling this injury? Maybe they should have IL’d him sooner? Connor Joe looks like a throwaway acquisition. I can’t see him sticking with Cincinnati for the rest of the season.
Joe has passed through Cincinnati previously. Perhaps he’s the spark the Reds need to get back to their winning ways and challenge the Cubbies for the NLC lead.
Me, a genius: It’ll be tough for Connor Joe to find playing time.
Me, an absolute moron: Connor Joe is starting in left field today.
I need a nap.
Hays not starting is a bigger question
Exactamundo.
Because Conner Joe has a better bat at .241 than almost half our starters! Since Steer still seems injured batting wise, Joe may get a little more playing time depending on if Benson does his strikeout after strikeout routine. I hope Benson is coached how important contact is instead of the “home run only” swing .
Unless the rest of the bench has food poisoning I just can’t justify why he’s in the lineup.
Shake it off, Doug.
Just say your oblique is feeling tender, and we can get you 10 days of R&R. You’ll feel like a new man. 😉
My hamstrings are tight. I did a lot of yard work today that involved stretching and reaching to trim trees and such.
Throw me on the IL and send me those big league checks!
The injuries keep piling on.
I hope I’m wrong about Joe. I just don’t see him adding anything except taking up a roster spot. His career stats speak for themself. If we’re looking for a spark I’d rather let Hinds play regularly.
They (Krall) might as well send Hinds back to AAA and let him play every day. That’s the only way he’ll reach his high potential.
Stephenson starting again today so once again the best hitter on the team this year is out of the line up. I don’t understand. I realize Tito is being patient but 25% of the season is now over and it looks like the Reds will win the projected 77 or less, somebody knew something. It turns out, as of now, St. Louis is the surprise team in the Central, about to win 7th in a row. Typing that makes me sick.
One thing is for sure with this team: there is no status quo.
You can’t polish a turd.(Reds lineup).
Also, an actual turd.
lol true
“Show me the man, I’ll show you the injury”. Slight paraphrase but with all of the “tight this, sore that, and a stiff you know what, its difficult to know if there are real injuries or just guys being taken out because they are not producing. As for Connor Joe (clever name), I don’t see any impact (not good at defense either), but a very light powered .241 hitter is a boost to the current situation.
Conner Joe straight to the starting lineup? Really? Definately an indication of our offensive prowess. Are we just going to keep putting under preforming players on the IL and hope that eventually one of our AAA players does something useful? When do Steer and McClain hit the IL? I think these moves are more likely a lack of talent as opposed to an injury.
A ten spot in the first makes the lineup look pretty good. Hope Singer can deal trikes and outs.