LAS VEGAS – The Cincinnati Reds won’t be one of the more active teams this offseason with limited payroll flexibility, but there will be a lot of shuffling on the 40-man roster over the upcoming week.
The Reds must add the prospects they want to protect from December’s Rule 5 Draft by Tuesday, and Friday is the deadline to release any arbitration-eligible players without guaranteeing them a 2023 contract.
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General Manager Nick Krall has already named four prospects who are locks to be added to the 40-man roster: Shortstop Elly De La Cruz, infielder Noelvi Marte, left-handed starter Brandon Williamson and right-handed starter Levi Stoudt. The Reds are weighing adding up to two more prospects.
The other prospect candidates who warrant consideration to be added to the 40-man roster include right-handed reliever Ricky Karcher, right-handed starter Lyon Richardson and catcher Daniel Vellojín. Karcher finished the 2022 season in Triple-A and struck out 35% of the batters he faced. Richardson was a second-round pick in 2018 and missed this past season following Tommy John surgery. Vellojín didn’t hit well, but finished the season in Double-A.
The Reds filled one spot on their 40-man roster Wednesday with new acquisition Nick Solak, who they view as a bat-first outfielder. They picked up Solak in a trade with the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash.
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There are 10 Reds players eligible for arbitration and it’s likely at least a couple of them are released ahead of Friday’s deadline to tender contracts. The 10 players include Kyle Farmer (estimated $5.9 million salary, according to MLB Trade Rumors projections), Luis Cessa ($2.6 million), Nick Senzel ($2.2 million), Aristides Aquino ($1.6 million), Buck Farmer ($1.4 million), Lucas Sims ($1.3 million), Jeff Hoffman ($1.2 million), Justin Dunn ($1.1 million), Derek Law ($900,000) and Tejay Antone ($800,000).
Kyle Farmer, Cessa, Senzel, Sims, Dunn and Antone are in the group most likely to return, but the Reds are still working through their decisions. Take Kyle Farmer as an example. He’s a clubhouse leader and viewed as a starter somewhere on the left side of the infield at the start of camp, but his role could be diminished if prospects take steps forward. It’s possible De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain and Jose Barrero are all part of the infield mix in the second half of the season.
Aquino, who was designated for assignment once last season, seemingly ran out of chances when he struggled to show much offensive consistency in the final two months of the season.
Minor league free agency begins, Reds sign Kevin Herget
The Reds, like all teams, have been aggressively looking to add depth at the start of minor league free agency, and they already reached an agreement with one pitcher.
Kevin Herget, who made three relief appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays last season, signed a minor league deal with the Reds on Thursday, according to the league's transactions log. Herget permitted nine hits and six runs in seven innings (7.71 ERA) while striking out four.
Primarily used as a starter in Triple-A, the 31-year-old right-hander had a 2.95 ERA in 17 minor league starts (21 appearances) with 99 strikeouts and 16 walks in 97 2/3 innings. Herget brings potential starting depth into spring training.
The Reds had 22 players elect free agency, including catcher Chuckie Robinson, outfielders Ronnie Dawson and Stephen Piscotty, and pitchers Brandon Bailey and Trey Wingenter. Robinson was designated for assignment and cleared waivers in October after playing in 25 Major League games. Dawson made one start for the Reds as a COVID fill-in.
Piscotty signed a minor-league deal with the Reds in August after he was released by Oakland, but he played 24 games in Triple-A. Bailey, who was general manager Nick Krall’s first trade after being promoted to head of baseball operations, missed the last two seasons after Tommy John surgery. Wingenter had a good chance of making the Reds’ bullpen in camp before he suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
Arizona Fall League ends for Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain, Rece Hinds
The Glendale Desert Dogs, which had six Reds prospects on the roster, lost 7-6 in the Arizona Fall League championship game Saturday in 11 innings.
Marte hit a two-run homer and a double to lift the club to a semifinal victory while Reds pitchers Sam Benschoter and Vin Timpanelli combined to pitch four shutout innings.
McLain homered in Saturday’s championship game, but committed an error in the next half-inning that led to a run scoring.
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