May 21: Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey tells reporters that Reed has been informed of his placement on release waivers (Twitter link via the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Phil Miller). He’ll be a free agent once he clears in 48 hours. At that point, he can sign with any club for the prorated league minimum.
May 16: The Twins announced that they’ve designated right-hander Addison Reed for assignment. The veteran setup man had been pitching on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Rochester after opening the season on the injured list due to a thumb sprain, though Dan Hayes of The Athletic tweets that Reed’s velocity was topping out at 88-89 mph in recent appearances.
It’s a disappointing outcome for both the Twins and Reed, whose initial two-year, $16.75MM pact with Minnesota looked to be a relative bargain. Reed got out to a terrific start last season, pitching to a 2.36 ERA with 9.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and 1.01 HR/9 through his first 26 2/3 innings. However, he began to struggle and landed on the shelf due to triceps discomfort and an elbow impingement in July. He struggled in his return while demonstrating the same type of velocity loss Hayes mentioned in reference to Reed’s rehab assignment. He finished up the season with a cumulative 4.50 ERA, 7.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 1.77 HR/9 and a 31.6 percent ground-ball rate.
Minnesota will have a week to trade Reed, release him or pass him through waivers. He’s likely to clear, given this season’s $8.5MM salary, and even if the Twins try to outright him to Triple-A, Reed could reject the assignment in favor of free agency.
His spot on the 40-man roster will go to right-hander Austin D. Adams, whose promotion to the Major Leagues was reported last night. Adams’ contract has now been formally selected, per the Twins’ announcement.
The Sugarland Skeeters might be interested.
Honestly kind of surprised to see this. Reed’s always been pretty solid in my opinion.
He was solid until he started throwing 88mph fastballs. Reed has been a cooked goose stretching well back into last year.
Not really familiar with Reed. What was his velocity in prior years?
His velocity was always 95-97 especially with Arizona
Thanks. I had no idea. That would be a cause for concern then. If he had been throwing 91, not so much.
Is this where all the old Scouts go?
Velocity trending downwards. Average fastball was 95.5mph when he broke in, down to 93.3mph when he pitched for Arizona, then down to 91.3mph for Minnesota…and now unable to crack 90.
If he refuses the assignment and accepts FA doesn’t he forfeit the remainder of his contract?
No. He does not. AAA would be an optional assignment for him. He’ll probably wind up in someone’s AAA affiliate initially but I’m sure it won’t be for Minnesota.
Nope. He’s a veteran with more than 5 years of service time. His contract is fully guaranteed and he cannot be outrighted without his permission.
Then he’s gone I guess.
Paid vacation!
Middle initials! Yea!
Steve, if he rejects the assignment does he still get paid?
Guaranteed contract. He gets the money either way.
Yes with his service time. If he did not have 5 years and he declined being outhrighted and elected to declare free agency, he would lose his contract i believe. Many a player have accepted the outright to keep a large money contract. See Jose Tabata.
That applies only on the first outright. If a MLB player had been outrighted once before, they can reject the assignment and still keep the guaranteed money.
If I remember correctly there were reports Reed had 3 year offers on the table but instead took the 2 year offer as it was closer to his wife’s family. Looks like those teams dodged a fairly large bullet.
Not sure he’ll find an MLB job but if he’s willing to go to the minors to work. himself back to the bigs, I can see both NY teams and Boston interested once he clears. Just don’t know if it’s mechanics or that his bullets are spent but someone will give him a shot once he clears waivers. Could also get traded with Minnesota picking up a body and most of the salary.
Lol, what would the Spankees do with him? They dont need him at all
Your kidding right? It’s a long season and the kind of move that makes Cashman often seem brilliant. Low cost stashing in the minors and if injuries occur and he rebounds back, etc. My guess again is he won’t get an MLB job now from a contender but he’ll likely have his choice of a minor league opportunity.
you’re*
Reed seemed like a really great signing last year and through May of that season he was the Twins best reliever. Something changed in June last season and he lost 3-4 mph on his fastball. At that velocity he got pounded. After a DL stint he came back late in the year, but his velocity was still way down. I had hoped that since he’s not that old he would recover his fastball over the off-season. Unfortunately, his spring training fastball was now in the upper 80s and he was again getting hit hard. A 7 week IL stint (for an injury to his non throwing hand) to start the season had little effect and his recent rehab assignment saw his fastball sitting 86-88 mph which led to him putting up a 14.40 ERA at AAA. I still have no idea what happened to him, but it’s getting close to a year since he lost his fastball and there are no signs its coming back.
The Mets make a lot of sense for him. He’s played there before and the Mets desperately need bullpen help *cough cough* our whole bullpens on the IL cough*
I just watched him pitch the 8th inning in Charlotte in AAA on Tuesday night and he gave up back to back HRs that seemed like his pitches were easy to ready… I’m not a ballplayer but these minor league guys lit him up easily
As soon as he clears waivers, the Red Sox will take a long, hard look at him. The only question is whether or not Reed will be willing to sign a minor league deal and not take up a 40 man roster spot until (or if) he gets ‘right’ down in the minors. Some team will sign him to a league minimum deal for sure and hope he proves to be a lottery ticket.
Jays will sign him they sign everyone
bring the Kid back to Chicago Hahn!
Not that I’m anywhere close to being a big fan of Falvey/Levine, it was good to see they recognized Reed’s value was non-existent and were willing to eat the $8mil+ on his contract by releasing him. As a lifelong fan (40+ years)…this is a NEW (and much needed) way of operating. This kind of move…eating $8 mill would’ve NEVER…repeat NEVER happened under Terry Ryan and other past Twins management. I applaud the decision 100%. However, the onus is now on Falvey to make a significant bullpen upgrade NOW. Watching May in the 7th today walking 2 batters with 2 outs and then leaving a cookie for Encarnacion to hit to Tacoma belies the need for bullpen help. With Hildenberger trying to figure himself out in Rochester, May’s struggles today and the inevitable regression of Mike Morin…its time to get some help for Rogers and Parker.
I would take a chance on him but his stuff seems diminished. He used to be good with the Mets
Good bye!
Hope you saved your money!
Jerry Dipoto is ready to pounce. His Uniform guy already has Reed jerseys hanging in the Mariners clubhouse.
Go get em Giants!! lol they sign all the other teams butt gravy talents
Alex Anthopoulos whispers in Jerry Dipoto’s ear to talk to the Mets GM about buying low on Cano which distracts the Mariner’s GM for hours and days on end about the opportunity to get the second baseman back. While Jerry seems to be a little occupied the Alex can offer a Chipper Jones autographed baseball and a bag of Georgia peaches. If he can throw strikes consistently, unlike the current pen, Alex is willing to throw in Matt Ryan or a retro Atlanta Thrashers jersey – but not both. Braves don’t do big deals for pen pieces so we need to contain ourselves here.
Mets bring him back take the risk for the minimum please
He’s lost 7-8 mph on his fastball. No thank you.
Welcome to the dodgers.
Agreed and not a bad idea…come up with a plan to get him back up above 90 at least…sometimes there is that one scout or pitching coach that can see something and straighten a guy out…with how unreliable our bullpen has been to start the season i don’t see why we wouldn’t take a flier and hope something gives
How about a deal with the Braves sending Addison Reed, Brent Rooker and Lewis Thorpe to Atlanta for either Kevin Gausman or Julio Teheran.