The Reds announced Monday that they’ve activated lefty Brandon Finnegan from the 60-day DL and cleared a spot on the 40-man by transferring veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL. Righty Lisalverto Bonilla was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to clear a spot on the active roster.
[Related: Updated Cincinnati Reds depth chart]
Finnegan, 24, has been out since April 15 with a shoulder injury and has made just three starts for Cincinnati this season. The absence of Finnegan and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who entered the year as the Reds’ top two starters, has been a massive factor in the team’s MLB-worst 6.19 rotation ERA.
Last year, in his first full season at the big league level, Finnegan posted a 3.98 ERA with 7.6 K/9, 4.4 BB/9 and a 38.1 percent ground-ball rate in 172 innings (31 starts) for the Reds. Acquired in 2015’s Johnny Cueto blockbuster with the Royals (alongside fellow lefties John Lamb and Cody Reed), Finnegan has a 3.94 ERA in 205 2/3 innings as a member of the Reds’ staff.
As for Arroyo, the 40-year-old made a return to the Majors for the first time since 2014 Tommy John surgery this year, once again donning the uniform that he wore for the majority of his career. Once one of the game’s most consistent innings eaters, Arroyo has struggled in 2017 thanks to a fastball that has dropped to an average of just 84 mph. That lack of velocity has contributed to a sky-high 2.9 HR/9 rate and a 7.35 ERA through 71 innings for Arroyo.
Always candid and honest with the media, Arroyo said after his last outing that he wasn’t sure if he’d ever pitch again. He’s hinted at retirement due to a lack of effectiveness on multiple occasions this season, though the well-respected veteran has continued to gut out performances and soak up innings for an injury-decimated Reds staff. Now on the DL himself, Arroyo won’t be eligible to be activated until Aug. 18, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll return even when he’s eligible.
if i was a major league pitcher, i would slap the first writer that ever called me an “innings eater”. that’s an insult.
So good enough to be a top 3 starter on a staff, but not really in the discussion for elite arms in the league is a insult.
Being good enough for a team to actually entrust you to throw 200 innings every season isn’t an insult.
notice though, you didn’t say, “innings eater”. major breakthrough, credit given for that.
Well, your name on here certainly suits you.
Look at his username and move on folks
as good a name as any. i like it. you like yours.?
How?
But your okay with the name Troll?
perfectly okay with it. we’re all internet trolls, if you think about it.
Now David Wells and Bartolo Colon were innings eaters. Wells liked his with lots of salt and Bartolo with chocolate syrupy sauce. They also each pitched when they were not eating.
We need more comments like this. Cheap shots, but there they are.
not only that, but they were between inning eaters. some people bar hop, those guys buffett hopped.
There’s nothing wrong with being an innings eater. Every player has a role on their respective team. Clayton Kershaw is an ace. Ted Lilly was an innings eater. Then there’s end of the rotation pieces that get swapped out every season like old shoes, like Edwin Jackson. It happens.
I think if Arroyo feels his arm/shoulder is up to it he’ll get at least one more start this year. The Reds aren’t winning anything, giving him a final send off for what he’s done for the organization would be a fitting end.
I think that is the only reason why they put him on the 60 day DL instead of just releasing him.
Hopefully Finnegan can pitching better then Bailey did
That’s my thought as well. Give him one last home start towards the end of the year and ride off into the sunset.
I hadn’t thought of your “one last start” scenario but agree that’s probably the case. Be well, Mr. Arroyo.
It keeps him in the dugout. Reds pitchers need a senior ballplayer they can talk with. His value is in the clubhouse talking with young pitchers about the big leagues.
I think this is kind of over blown. It isn’t like the Reds don’t have other veterans on the roster, veterans that are performing or will be with the team in the future. Arroyo has also made considerable money over his career so there is the question would he want to spend his summers working as a coach.
Great point..like Brian Kennedy says,the clubhouse presence is a needless fallback!
Bronson just announced his retirement during a dugout interview. He’s a great guy and he deserves the best.