The Reds have released former big leaguers Nicky Delmonico and Cheslor Cuthbert, as announced this morning by their Triple-A affiliate (on Twitter). Both are now free agents.
Delmonico, 28, spent parts of the 2017-20 seasons in the Majors with the White Sox, serving as a left fielder, first baseman and designated hitter. He turned in an impressive rookie effort back in ’17, hitting at a .262/.373/.482 clip through 166 plate appearances.
It’s been a steady decline for the former Orioles and Brewers farmhand since that time, however. In 408 big league plate appearances from 2018-20, Delmonico hit just .210/.287/.346. Things haven’t gone too much better in Triple-A so far in 2021, as Delmonico has managed a rather tepid .221/.312/.382 output — albeit in a small sample of just 77 plate appearances. In parts of five Triple-A campaigns, Delmonico is a .259/.342/.421 hitter.
The 28-year-old Cuthbert, meanwhile, was once one of the Royals’ premier prospects but has never produced much in the big leagues. He did connect on a career-high 12 home runs back in 2016, his lone season as a regular in the Majors (510 plate appearances), but he carries an overall line of .250/.300/.378 in 1161 trips to the plate. Like Delmonico, he’s struggled with the Reds’ Triple-A club, hitting just .203/.330/.338 in 88 plate appearances.
He’s played primarily third base in his pro career, but Cuthbert does have some experience at first base and second base as well. This year’s struggles notwithstanding, Cuthbert is a career .281/.350/.463 hitter in parts of seven Triple-A seasons.
Cue everyone to the Mets
As a Mets fan, no thank you on both of them
Everyone’s getting healthy again we don’t need more scrubs that can’t hit their weight anymore
Back to the sox?
The Reds no longer wanted a stake in Delmonico.
Medium rare pick up.
Reds mete him out with a little more AAA1 seasoning
fourth
Note to Hahn… these are two guys that Jerry doesn’t need a reunion with…
La Russa wants them back immediately
I look at negative WAR and say, “Why didn’t they replace him?” Then I think, “They probably didn’t have anyone better.” So I conclude that while negative WAR doesn’t look good on the player’s page, it’s really more of an indictment against the team.
Usually negative WAR is exactly replacement level. It’s probably what the actual replacement player is gonna give you. There’s a margin for error with the stat such that a -0.3 WAR is basically the same as 0.0 for certain purposes. Cuthberts been a bit worse than that but these two guys basically are the perfect example of replacement players.
Cuthbert was one of my favorite Royals prospects. Very likeable ballplayer. Was hoping he’d find success once he left KC but he’s been pretty terrible.
Only good “Cuthbert” was a chick named Sonya.
(She was kinda hot).
Rest? D.F.A.
Elisha?
Apparently Louisville (Reds AAA team) just added some guy named Votto to handle first base in place of Delmonico and Cuthbert. Might even get called up to the big league team if he impresses someone during his rehab stint.
A Canadian will never make it in MLB
Justin Morneau called. He wanted you to shove you hot take.
*laughs in Fergie Jenkins, while slapping Larry Walker on the back,
Cheapest DelMonico that Cincy…can buy.
Thank God for the Pirates.
Keeps this collection of nonsense from finishing…Dead Last
Washed up…at 27.
Where is Vada Pinson nowadays to tell em “look scrub…play the game”?
DelMonico…on sale. Clearance…first floor at your local Aldi’s.
17 cents a lb
28…year old…premier prospect.
Next up on the “prospect block”” shall be Larry Storch!
Viva la old timers!
Hope someone picks Nicky up.
While he’s carrying his suitcase on the side of the road!
I couldn’t resist!
Seems like the Reds have a scout looking for the suitcase no one else wants!
Parts of seven AAA seasons? Wow! Give him credit for perseverance.
Two more players who didn’t get any at bats in 2020 only to be released two months into the season.
For minor leaguers or guys stuck at the intermediate site all last year, it was like being hurt for a year and a half. It’s really sad to see so many fringe careers derailed. I don’t really expect 20-22 year olds to be further along from A ball developmentally in the same situation. Take the .225/.300/.380 major league experienced 28 year olds as roster fillers and let the kids find their skill sets again at the right level. We’ve seen what sticking A and AA kids too early in the bigs has accomplished.
Go Vols