It was another busy day for the Cincinnati Reds when it comes to making roster moves. This morning the team announced that All-Star pitcher Chase Burns was being placed on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain. Taking his spot on the pitching staff is Carson Spiers, who the team has called up from Triple-A Louisville. He needed to be added to the 40-man roster, and to make room there the Reds designated outfielder TJ Friedl for assignment.
Let’s start with Chase Burns. In his first full season the 2024 1st round draft pick made the All-Star team, went 15-3, threw 154.1 innings, and posted a 2.86 ERA. He made 29 starts on the year, but his season is now finished as the season will come to an end before he’s eligible to return from the 15-day injured list.
Carson Spiers pitched for the Reds in parts of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons. Most of his time came in 2024 when he threw 90.2 innings. He only threw 13.0 and 13.1 in his other two years with the Reds. In his time in the big leagues he posted a 5.69 ERA as he made 14 starts and pitched in 15 games out of the bullpen.
Spiers missed the second half of 2025 and most of 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July of 2025. He returned to the mound for a rehab start on in Dayton on August 23rd. The next time out he was in Triple-A and gave up six runs in 4.1 innings. Since then he’s made three starts and allowed two total runs in 16.0 innings while walking three and striking out 21 batters.
TJ Friedl was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday, with the move being retroactive to Friday night. He was having what was by far the worst season of his big league career. In his 91 games with the Reds in 2026 he hit just .172/.255/.255. As we wrote yesterday when the option was announced, it was likely his final game of the year as Louisville’s season ends today and he had up to three days to report to the Bats. With his now being designated for assignment that may have ended his career with Cincinnati. Other teams will now have a chance to pick him up on waivers and hope that he can get back to his past self moving forward. If he clears waivers the Reds could outright him to the minor leagues.
“All-Star pitcher Chase Burns was being placed on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain.”
No big deal as long as it’s not an arm problem.
This is just a way to open up a roster spot for the last week. Not sure why they have pitched him at all recently if they weren’t going to allow him to get a chance for the win.
Friedl has had a rough couple of years, both personally and professionally. Whether anyone claims him or not, hopefully his life takes a turn for the better. As for Burns, I wish they had shut him down a couple of weeks ago. Regardless, as @Melvin said, “as long as it’s not an arm problem”.
What happened to him personally? Just curious.
In all honesty I don’t remember specifically. I remember both he and Fraley both popping up either personal stories in the media. Fraleys daughter had leukemia. I can’t remember the Fruedl story
I wanted to see Kent Emanuel to come up from the Bats and pitch again. Of the last six or seven starters for Louisville, Emanuel had the lowest WHIP at 1.19! They put him on the Developmental list instead.
His movement to the development list was because he was not going to pitch again before the Bats season ended, so that move allowed them to activate another pitcher. Spiers was probably going to be added to the 40-man following the season, so I think this move makes more sense.
I agree, it does. Timing did not work out for Emanuel plus Spiers was the best pick.
Baseball is a cut throat business for sure. Friedl did well for Reds until this season, and poof gone. Like Hinds, and CES before him. Hopefully he can bounce back
The fact that Burns pitched so well despite bullpen issues and an overall anemic offense minus Sal and Elly, is amazing.
Whew … was holding my breath for a sec. You know how to make sure you get the click.
The fact is stated in the headline. Nothing click-bait about it. How was it supposed to be headlined?
Doesn’t say anything about groin. Lol
Not a huge issue, but personally, I’m not a fan of the handling of Friedl here. At this point, why not just let him stick it out for the remainder of the season? Maybe start him for the last home game and get a bit of a send off. Not saying he is a Reds legend or anything, but he has been a hard worker and a very likeable Reds player. Always hustled his butt off.
For Burns, there are only 7 games left in the season, so he likely would have only made 1 more start anyway. Completely fine with shutting him down now and letting him get healthy for next year.
For Friedl, the writing was on the wall. Sometimes, players just fall off a cliff, and that’s the end of their career. Maybe Friedl can bounce back. But it’s up to another team to find out.
The Reds HAVE to sign or trade for an OF this offseason. And no dumpster diving reclamation projects. They have to spend big-boy money to get a REAL MLB outfielder.
Absolutely!
Friedl and Fraley DFA’d on the same day. Baseball has its own ways sometimes.
Solid year for Burns. Keep working on the 2nd and 3rd pitch during the offseason.