The Reds announced this morning that they’ve filled the final two spots on their 30-man roster by selecting the contracts of infielders Christian Colon and Matt Davidson. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Justin Shafer and left-hander Josh D. Smith were designated for assignment.
Colon, 31, returns for a second season with the Cincinnati organization. The former No. 4 overall draft pick (Royals, 2010) spent the bulk of the 2019 season with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, hitting .300/.372/.443. He joined the big league club late in the year but only tallied eight plate appearances. Colon has played second base, third base and shortstop in the Majors, but he’s never justified that lofty draft status. In 150 big league games, he’s a .256/.321/.318 hitter.
The 29-year-old Davidson was a top pick himself in 2009 (No. 35 to the White Sox) and long rated as one of MLB’s top 100 prospects. Strikeout issues have long plagued the slugger, however, and in parts of four big league seasons he’s a .226/.295/.435 hitter with 49 home runs and a 34.5 percent strikeout rate. Davidson, who hit .264/.339/.527 with the Rangers’ Triple-A club in 2019, was at one point experimenting with a role as a two-way player. However, he’s only tossed three professional innings, and the Reds listed him as a pure infielder.
Both Colon and Davidson will give the Reds some infield depth off the bench, but they’ll likely take a back seat to Josh VanMeter and perhaps Kyle Farmer in that regard.
Shafer, meanwhile, has been designated for assignment by his second team in eight months. The Blue Jays designated him last November after a shaky showing in his first 48 MLB frames. Shafer turned in a solid 3.75 ERA in that span, but he also walked 32 batters and plunked another two in that time. His 5.52 FIP paints a much less favorable picture. Shafer has excelled in both Double-A and Triple-A, and he still has a pair of minor league option remaining — all of which likely appealed to the Reds when they acquired him (for cash) shortly after his original DFA. Cincinnati will have a week to trade Shafer, release him, or try to pass him through outright waivers.
Smith, 30, made his MLB debut last season but struggled to a 6.39 ERA in 12 2/3 innings between Cleveland and Miami. He’s worked 164 frames across four Triple-A seasons and carries a 3.02 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in that time. The Reds claimed him off waivers from the Marlins this past offseason.
Still trying to figure out how Pickles got the nod to pitch opening day over Luis Castillo? But really nice to see him turn it around last season with Cincy. With the Yanks he pitched like a deer in the headlights.
Opening day nod goes to the pitcher who’s signed for 3+ seasons, rather than the guy who’ll be heading into arbitration.
thats…not how it works
C’mon isn’t Bauer even better then Pickles? Just don’t trade him back to NY. Not even to the Mutts. And never pitch him in a big spot like opening day in Cincy. smh
Didn’t they try to change how gray pitched in New York. I don’t get why teams do that hey this guy is a very good pitcher let’s change how he works. Oh no he’s crap now. Same thing with archer and pirates.
Pickles is making me look bad today. Not making fun of Pickles anymore. Yanks tried to turn him in to Tanaka by throwing his slider more. What a mistake that was. Pickles can’t be Tanaka he can just be Pickles. And he looks great for the Reds. Excellent pick-up for them
Gray pitched better last year.
Who is your pitching coach, Jesus? Thinking pickles has definitely been saved. Just never fire that pitching coach as long as he stays
Derek Johnson. Not quite Jesus or Moses but may he never be parted from the Reds’ C.
@Cegmyster, did you just come here to see how many times you could type “Pickles?”
Nice!!
After today I might just call him Sonny. He’s earned that.
What a hell of a pitching coach Derek Johnson is
When in doubt, clean out your colon
#35 by Diamondbacks, traded to the White Sox
love how Davidson made a few good outings as a pitcher and suddenly he was a bona fide 2 way player in everyone’s books. did we not learn from Christian Bethancourt?
Did anyone see that stat I heard the other day? Something like 35+ starts in a row that Gray has given up 6 or fewer hits? I can’t seem to find it now. Anyways, that’s why he’s your opening day starter. Castillo has a great WHIP but he struggles against teams that are patient and works counts. Gray is far superior at this point. That being said, I hope Luís brings it today…