In eight months, left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez went from the Cincinnati Reds' Opening Day roster to out of the organization.
Pérez was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. He is out of minor-league options, so he will be subject to waivers if he's not kept on a team's active 26-man roster next year.
The 25-year-old Pérez made 25 relief appearances with the Reds this year, allowing 21 hits and 17 earned runs in 24 innings (6.38 ERA). He struck out 25 and walked 20. He shuttled several times to Triple-A Louisville where he posted a 3.26 ERA in 30 1/3 innings.
The Reds acquired Pérez before the start of the 2021 season in a trade with the Houston Astros for minor-league catcher Luke Berryhill. The Orioles hold the No. 1 spot on the waiver claim priority list because they tied for the league's worst record last season.
After Wednesday's waiver transaction, the Reds have 39 players on their 40-man roster. Amir Garrett, Justin Wilson and Reiver Sanmartin are the only left-handed pitchers on the 40-man.
MINORS MOVES: The Reds re-signed reliever Nick Howard to a minor-league contract, according to Baseball America.
Howard was the club's first-round pick in 2014. He battled the yips, which nearly ended his baseball career, but he pitched at Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville this year. He had a 2.20 ERA in 24 innings at Double-A and a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings at Triple-A.
The Reds released seven minor leaguers, according to Baseball America, including Brandon Finnegan. The left-hander, acquired in the Johnny Cueto trade, hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2018. Finnegan had a strong spring camp this year, but he had a 5.53 ERA in 55 1/3 innings at Louisville.
Source link
