The Reds have announced a series of transactions designed to get some fresh arms to the majors. In moves with 40-man implications, righty Blake Wood was designated for assignment while the team selected the contract of fellow right-hander Alejandro Chacin. Additionally, righty Luke Farrell was recalled and outfielder Phil Ervin was optioned back to Triple-A.
It’s a bit surprising to see Cincinnati cut ties with Wood, who is eligible for arbitration one final time in 2018 after earning $1.275MM this year. The 32-year-old does carry an ugly 5.65 ERA, but that’s due in large part to the staggering nine earned runs he allowed in his last two outings. (More generally, too, he carries a low strand rate of 62.1% and has been tagged for a lofty .364 BABIP by opposing hitters.) Of course, that pair of disastrous appearances also likely paved the way for today’s move.
Despite the less-than-exciting earned run average, Wood has averaged 9.7 K/9 against 4.6 BB/9 on the year while sporting a 53.6% groundball rate. And he still delivers an upper-nineties heater that could hold appeal to other organizations.
That said, the Reds surely at least looked for takers and perhaps found insufficient interest. And the move makes way for Chacin, a 24-year-old who has steadily risen through the ranks over the past three years and figures to be a bullpen option for 2018 and beyond.
Chacin has spent the entirety of 2017 at Triple-A, posting a 2.60 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 over 69 1/3 innings in 44 appearances. That multi-inning versatility could give the Reds yet another flexible arm — part of an acknowledged strategy of the organization.
Wood throws hard and has solid ground ball tendencies, Pittsburgh here we come.
He was already in the Pirates system before the Reds signed him
Chacin is one of my favorite minor leaguers. Genuinely surprising to me that he’s been overlooked in the Rule V so many times. Happy to see him get a chance.
About time. Blake Wood is not good at baseball
It’s not surprising at all if you’ve watched Wood pitch at all this year. He’s been even worse than his awful numbers. This should have been done weeks ago.
Agreed. He has been living on borrowed time all season. It is time to give someone else turn. The Reds had to do this.
ANGELS GET HIM!!!
You don’t want him. Check out his WHIP. 1.622 baserunners per inning.
Blake Wood did not appear to want to be there last night
He was going through the motions
It was 6 to 6 when I turned on the Reds/Cubs and when I turned it off it was 11 to 6
walks, singles, other silliness
I am not surprised in the least bit.
He probably saw it coming after his complete meltdown the other day.
Honestly, when a reliever is charged with more than 4 runs (assuming grand slam) I put it on the manager. An inning like that is going to destroy both the relievers stats and confidence.
Last season with the Yanks, Blake Parker had a 2.81 ERA if you subtract 0.1 innings in which he melted down. While I believe Wood could clear waivers, He’ll have no shortage of opportunities for next year. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.
Just to clarify- by opportunities i mean non-roster deals and I see him as a middle reliever, not a set up man or anything.
I remember when he pitched for my Tribe. So much “potential”…..meh.
If I remember correctly, he walked the bases loaded before giving up the grand slam. The walks are what kill me. The last couple of times out he didn’t look like an MLB pitcher at all.