The Astros have designated minor league first baseman AJ Reed for assignment in order to open a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Jose Urquidy, the team announced to reporters (Twitter link via Jake Kaplan of The Athletic).
Reed, 26, once rated among the game’s top 20 prospects, per Baseball America, but simply hasn’t panned out as the organization hoped. He’s hit just .153/.253/.244 and punched out 50 times in 150 Major League plate appearances, and while he has solid overall numbers in Triple-A, this year’s .224/.329/.469 line has been underwhelming. Reed’s strikeout rate has jumped 23.7 percent in 2018 to 29.8 percent in 2019, but he’s still walking at the same strong 12 percent clip he’s managed in each of his three prior seasons in Triple-A.
Houston will have a week to trade Reed or attempt to pass him through outright waivers, although given his former prospect pedigree, it seems likely that he’d be claimed. A team like the Tigers, Royals, White Sox, Marlins, Mariners or Blue Jays would have little to lose by picking up Reed and giving him a look in the Majors down the stretch in 2019. The Orioles are stuck with Chris Davis’ contract at first base but could still give Reed a look between first and the DH slot; general manager Mike Elias was Houston’s scouting director when Reed was taken in the second round of the 2014 draft.
Reed is in his final option year, so beginning in 2020, he won’t be able to be sent to the minors without first clearing waivers. But for the time being, any team that does pick him up would be able to freely send him back and forth between Triple-A and the Majors.
I could see a rebuilding team pick him up and give him a bunch of MLB at bats to see if he can figure something out or not.
Royals have nothing to lose. They don’t really have a first baseman right now.
This is your chance Mr. Elias. Give me Reed and DFA Davis. Spin it to PA as one of your prior prized picks being available. Yes, we have a million first base types on the team but I’ll take anything to dump Davis.
Tyler White for a Gatorade cooler and a draft beer. Who says no?
Hopefully the bartender pouring the beer. It’s way more valuable than him.
Safe to say that AJ never really had a legitimate opportunity to play in the major leagues. It’s sad to see how things panned out
It’s all on him and his inability to perform at the top level. Dude couldn’t beat out White as our backup 1B this year. That’s all on him.
He also had a chance when Yuli was playing third. The kid just couldn’t put it together against MLB pitchers.
Royals ought to claim him and DFA Lucas Duda. Maybe he could platoon with Cuthbert at 1st base.
Orioles will probably at least think about taking a chance on him,since the gm come from Houston
Chris Davis minus the power and massive biceps lol.
did he lose his power or someting? im pretty sure that was the only thing he did for the most part.
He’s lost everything it seems.
If I recall, he was well regarded as a hitter as well. Not only power. He’s a lefty too, if that helps. Slow bat and out of shape with no intention of losing the weight. Limited to 1b only and he’s not very good there either.
He definitely put on the freshman 50 and didn’t lose it.
Except weight
I thought we were talking about Reed, not White.
It applies to both lol
i bet he’ll get rave reviews at first in Miami.
Astros will take 4 Cuban sandwiches and a lobster tray in trade.
think you’re getting even one lobster for AJ Reed? keep dreaming.
Ok lobter tail with butter on the side.
But no lemon!
Please tell me that was a Peter O’Brien reference
the shoe fits id say
Pretty amazing how this guy sky rocketed past Jon Singleton and then completely flamed out as the 1b of the future. And Tyler White is still around… Astros need a 1b in the worst way, talk about an easy way to improve the lineup, acquiring a 1b that can consistently produce.
Jose Abreu…
Not for AJ Reed!
Jon Singleton got rich before he had to make it. He just smoked his way out of the league while getting filthy rich. If they didn’t give him that deal who knows. Maybe he would’ve woken up and been a contributor(at least until he got that first extension)
How about Brandon Belt? He’s from Houston.
Astros already have a guy with little power and low BA at 1B in White.
Gurriel is fine there.
Jesus Aguiler for Reed + a left handed reliever. The Crew and us fans love Aguiler but he has just been horrible! Thames is quietly putting together a solid year and it looks like he will be holding it down against all righties.
The Astros do not need a 1st baseman while they have Yuli Gurriel on the team. Only have room for back up bench players.
I doubt the Jays make a move for Reed. They will want as many AB’s for Tellez as possible especially if they can’t find a taker for Smoak.
No need to give Reed a shot if you have a prospect with upside.
Mayhaps the Tigers can pull another “JD Martinez” and fix him. Miggy’s days at 1B are pretty much over.
JD had shown potential at the MLB level. Reed showed his ability to eat buffets day and night while whiffing 99% of his ABs.
Astros gave j.d. plenty of chances. 2013 was a turn for the worst. Strikes outs up, BA and BB down. No doubt the Astros front office still regrets this. Tyler White is still around cause before last week he was top 10 in walk %.
Make him lose at least 30 lbs.
I would pick up AJ Reed and work on his pitching skills and make him a two way player. He pitched pretty well in school.
I feel like he’d turn into another Anthony Gose
its not like gose was sticking in the outfield. better try something new of the old thing is broken.
Personally would love to see Reed for Aguilar straight up please
I hope this means an opening for the Express 1B goes to Tucker.
I’m glad to see AJ is finally DFA’d and gonna be traded… We all know Jeff Lunhow is bundling him to trade for another pitcher.
Madison Bumgarner Houston Astros? Man, that’d be fun to watch….
I’d take it.
Yes please.
Don’t need a rental when six current pitchers will be FA after this season.
Why not? Gerritt Cole is leaving anyway.
As a White Sox fan I had been intrigued with A.J. Reed’s potential, enough so that I was hoping he might be included as part of a prospect package for Chris Sale or Jose Quintana when trade talks were discussed with the Astros at the onset of their rebuild in 2016. A deal never materialized and now the White Sox have an opportunity to work something out with a trade or waiver claim while he is in DFA limbo.
Reed was not only a highly touted left-handed power bat coming out of the University of Kentucky but also a decent starting southpaw pitcher as well. If he can’t regain his promise with the bat perhaps he might consider a return to the mound. I’d like to see the White Sox take a flyer on Reed. The cost would be minimal and the organization does have a need for a lefty power bat and arm in their system.
No, no you wouldn’t. Just mention Chris Davis to an I’d fan if you want to know how it will turn out.
A.J. Reed is 26-years old. I’d take the 26-30 year old version of Chris Davis in a heartbeat to be my left-handed hitting DH/backup 1B and “blowout” relief pitcher while he also hits between 1B Andrew Vaughn and LF Eloy Jimenez in a future White Sox batting order.
CF Luis Robert, 2B Nick Madrigal and 3B Yoan Moncada can set the table while SS Tim Anderson provides dessert in the bottom half along with our future C and RF.
The O’s did take their chances on Smith Jr. and Nunez, perhaps they’ll jump here too.
This has Marlins all over it
Saw him the other night. Got run for arguing called third strike. Continued yelling at ump til escorted by team down the runway. Had been taking good pitches all nite. He’s just a DH so he has limited market, maybe Japan.
While i agree the Mariners don’t have much to lose, why take on a worse version of Vogelbach and take his AB’s away? It’s very clear Evan White will be playing first base by this time next year and Vogelbach will be at DH. Yes they’re record says they should be active on waivers, but not this one.
Giants should use this guy over Tyler Austin IMO. Send Austin back down. Or even just take reed for the triple a team.
The Tigers should take a chance on him, but knowing Al Avila, they won’t.
It’s psychological with AJ Reed. Watched him in 2015 and thought he could be a beast. Houston did not give him a real chance. At some point his spirit broke; a guy doesn’t suddenly drop from a 1.044 OPS to under .800 over the course of 5 seasons with a steady decline.
Sorry, this was a guy in the wrong organization at the wrong time. His 2015 numbers , and even 2016 and 2017, set himself up for a real chance with a rebuilding team.
And yet we have Tyler White that can’t hit his weight.
There are Hall of Famers that didn’t hit White’s weight.
AJ is young enough to possibly turn it around in a new environment.. Teams like Kansas City, Baltimore, Seattle, Toronto, or Miami would have nothing to lose taking a flyer on AJ after he clears waivers. Both Reed and the team that picks him up might be well rewarded if AJ is given the chance to get back on track.
I hate to say it because I am not Slim Pickens but both AJ Reed and Tyler White look like they took the saying “I am so hungry that I could eat a horse” literally.
They are missing out on a once in a lifetime chance by not being in good enough shape for a world class athlete.
Maybe a change of scenery would change their minds.