The Reds have announced a series of additions to their 40-man roster. Righty Justin Shafer comes over via trade from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. The Cincinnati club has also claimed outfielder Nick Martini off waivers from the Padres.
To create 40-man roster space, the Reds designated outfielder Brian O’Grady and righty Jimmy Herget for assignment. They’ll be in DFA limbo for up to ten days.
Shafer was just designated himself, but drew enough interest to land on a 40-man roster and even generate a bit of a trade return. The 27-year-old, a former eighth-round pick, worked to a 3.86 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 5.7 BB/9 in 39 2/3 innings last year with the Jays.
There are some things to like here. Shafer averaged close to 95 mph with his heater and drew swings and misses on nearly a twelve percent of his MLB pitches. He was even more effective — 3.52 ERA, 35:8 K/BB ratio — in 30 2/3 frames in the tough International League.
If he can hold onto the roster spot, Shafer figures to compete for a role in camp. Martini could also be a candidate for a reserve gig in Cincinnati, depending upon what other moves the team ends up making.
Martini struggled last year in limited opportunities with the A’s and Padres. But the left-handed hitter had posted a strong .296/.397/.414 batting line over his first 179 MLB plate appearances in 2018. And Martini was quite tough on Pacific Coast League hurlers last year, recording nearly as many walks as strikeouts and generating a .328/.432/.482 output over 329 plate appearances at Triple-A.
A two-drink minimum has now been established at Cincinnati Red home games…
No more alcohol jokes in San Diego.
Love it
Nicely done. Shafer is the one beer to have, if you’re having more than one! Or a beer with a martini chaser.
They seem to just be making moves to make them. Shafer looks decent but Martini not so much.
Solid minors numbers and solid 2018 with OAK. I don’t think he’s likely to make the team but worth a shot
Martini is a good 5th outfielder LH pinch hitter.
I was surprised we met him go but figure we are about to add a couple more significant LH bats.
Don’t be so quick to write off Martini. His D is good in the corners, and he shows all signs of being a very good contact/OBP guy. Not a power hitter, but so what?
DFA the minor league player of the year for a 29 year old who can’t hit with zero power?
The off season starts off with such promise….and then …….lol
OGrady will be 28 in May and has one good MiLB season. You’re wasting your time puting more than 30 seconds thinking about larger ramifications. Organizational depth moves
While I’m not a concerned as the commenter above, i Do think O’Grady shows more promise than Martini. You would think the Reds would give him a shot this year given his solid production over the last year and a half.
Lance Nix was great for the Reds also. He flamed out, and I’m guessing that the Reds don’t believe that O’Grady can repeat his season.
Not sure how this improves the team?
Seems like an equal DFA guys are about equal to the ones they picked up.
Hope, this is not the big moves this off season.
It’s not meant to be a big move. It’s a “throw something at the wall and maybe it sticks” type of move with no risk and at least some reward. Worst case, both are DFA’ed again and lost on waivers
Shafer isn’t that bad. I remember watching a game against the Dodgers where he couldn’t stop walking people though
That’s the problem. Great arm, lots of K’s, but waaaayyy too many walks. If he can ever get that in check he’d probably be a quality major league arm.
If there was room for him Nick Martini should go to the Cubs. He was born where I grew up. And he was an avid Cubs fan. Homered at Wrigley as member of the A’s before they fired him and San Diego picked him up off waivers.
Herget looks like an intriguing arm with lots of minor league success. I’d definitely take a flier on him if I had the opportunity.
Shocked to see Herget removed from the 40-man. He is only 26 and has been highly regarded as a prospect. Only pitched in five games and accumulated just six innings. Shafer is just one year older and has proven a bit more success at the major-league level.
What exactly does “cash considerations “ actually mean?
They give paid for his contract. NO players going from the Reds.
I’m not saying don’t improve in any way you can but moves like these are telling about the lack of depth of the Reds roster. Deep teams can’t find rosters spots for guys like this and are forced to waive them. Usually if your team has room to add a bunch of kick the tire type guys it’s not good. Could change maybe the Reds sign a couple guys and don’t have room themselves but they basically just added a guy to their roster that didn’t fit on another’s and only required a little cash to pickup from the claiming team(likely claimed him to flip him from the get go)
Hopefully they make their “big” moves before market leaves them behind. Everyone now days wait to see how market plays out before getting involved. Sometimes that is a big disadvantage for smaller market teams.
If Reds keep a wait and c attitude they will c 2020 pass them by as with Grandal!
Don’t worry..
Acquino will have a monster year!
Suarez will have ANOTHER monster year!
Votto will be Votto again!
They will finish top 5 in MLB in team offense!
The starting rotation will be LIGHTS OUT!
They will be an exciting team to watch!!
…and they will win 81 GAMES!!!
They will have an average attendance of 8,000 per game!
Don’t worry!
Things I can’t stand about my favorite teams MLBTR page. 1) The constant belittling of the Reds organization by bitter, drunk divorced former Reds fans that caused the break up of the marriage they still want back 12 years later. 2) The constant trolling of other teams fans that maintain this “holier than thou” market standing because we live “In da city”…bite me…we were here fisrt… 3) Analitical and now it alls that grew up in their parents basements, and now own the world because they inherited said basement…where they still reside…
I’m supportive but sometimes I just have to pop off, like once every 10 posts. Low hanging fruit, I know. I’m actually pretty stoked about this season. Love your handle btw!