The Reds announced they’ve reinstated right-hander Tejay Antone from the 10-day injured list. To open space on the active roster, Cincinnati designated southpaw Sean Doolittle for assignment. The move also clears another spot on the 40-man roster, which now sits at 37.
Antone has missed the better part of three months dealing with forearm issues. He landed on the IL with inflammation on June 11, then returned after a minimal stint. Just four days later, he was placed back on the IL with a forearm strain that has kept him out ever since. Before the injury, Antone had been the Reds’ best late-inning weapon. He’s worked to a 1.87 ERA over 33 2/3 frames this season, striking out a fantastic 33.1% of opponents against an average 9.4% walk rate. It’s the second consecutive quality season for the 27-year-old, who posted a 2.80 ERA over 35 1/3 innings as a rookie in 2020.
Cincinnati welcomes back their top reliever at an opportune time. The Reds’ recent hot streak, coupled with the Padres’ free fall, has Cincinnati up a game over the Friars with a little less than six weeks remaining in the regular season. That’s a far better position than the Reds were in as recently as a couple weeks ago, but it’s also nowhere near a comfortable advantage. The Cincinnati bullpen was a disaster earlier in the season, but they’ve performed better over the past few weeks.
Doolittle has been a fixture in that relief corps for the entire season. He’ll now lose his spot as part of a broader makeover in the late innings. In addition to Antone, Cincinnati welcomed Lucas Sims back from a lengthy IL stint earlier this month, and they overhauled the bullpen before the July 30 trade deadline. The Reds brought in Mychal Givens, Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson via trade, pushing Doolittle out of the picture.
The veteran southpaw was one of the sport’s premier relievers from 2012-18. He broke in with the A’s and eventually earned the closer’s role in Oakland, a job he retained after being traded to the Nationals midway through the 2017 season. Doolittle pitched at a league average level in 2019 before struggling through an injury-wrecked 2020 campaign to end his time in Washington. He signed a one-year, $1.5MM guarantee with the Reds in February.
Doolittle has stayed healthy this season, but he’s amidst the worst year of his career. The 34-year-old has worked 38 1/3 innings of 4.46 ERA ball across 45 appearances, striking out 23.7% of opposing hitters against a 10.4% walk rate. That’s not disastrous work — it’s a little worse than league average after adjusting for the Reds’ hitter-friendly home park — but it’s nowhere near the elite heights Doolittle reached at his peak.
That said, it’s plausible another team will add Doolittle off waivers over the coming days. Even if he’s only a league average pitcher at this stage of his career, that kind of competence could upgrade many teams’ current middle innings situations. And Doolittle’s low base salary would reduce the financial responsibility for claiming teams, as he’s only due around $311K from now through season’s end. Should Doolittle pass through waivers unclaimed, he’d have the right to elect free agency while collecting the remainder of that guaranteed salary as a player with five-plus years of big league service.
Woohoo!! DooNothing is finally gone!!!
Doolittle’s also a nut.
No he’s awesome, a great human
And now the reds wish they could pull him back with Antone hurt again.
This has been a pretty amazing re-make of the bullpen roster. Nearly the entire bullpen roster has been turned over.
I know, I’m thinking about it counting the heads and it’s almost 100%. So glad to have Antone back!
I was too, but he’s already hurt again.
Awesome move.
Doolittle>Hand
Only 37 players on the 40-man? Without Doolittle and Feliz their roster shows 40, including the two pitchers on the 60-day IL. That makes 38.
Does this mean Nick Senzel is back on the 60-day IL instead of the 10-day?
Correct. When they reversed his option he reverted back to 60 day IL, which he was on before being activated and optioned.
Wouldn’t his veteran presence be key for them? His numbers were close to Garret and Sims. Haven’t seen how things have gone for him this year but was key for the Nats WS team. How many post season heros have had just above average years? Evoldi for Bos, Randy in TB, Hudson for the Nats, Culberson for both doyers and braves
This is the same logic as keeping him around because he’s apparently liked in the clubhouse. They have guys that have been to the postseason and more. Same thing can be done with Moose but contract and all so it won’t.
My point was the guys they kept, amir and Sims don’t have more postseaon experience as you say. As for Moose, he’s been hurt this year and still on track for his career. Average out his reds numbers to 500abs and he’s Givin you .230 with 25Hrs playing second none the less. As an Angel fan he should of came home instead of Rendon..
His inherited runners allowed to score at one time was pushing 90% and it doesn’t feel any better recently. He’s terrible
Doc: A great deal of additional context is needed in order to make conclusions from that pushing-90% number.
fan favorite on a team that’s playing for a draft pick, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t land back with the Nats
Nats probably won’t put in a waiver claim but if he clears he’ll probably land back in DC
Would love to see that. He’s still better than most of the Nats’ current BP and most of us love him in DC. Fingers crossed.
dclivejazz: He’s a nut.
AD it seems like you have a problem with Doolittle, I know his politics are probably to the left of yours, but that does not make him a nut. If we’re playing that game Rizzo and all the other anti-vaxers are “nuts” too. I believe I recall Doolittle being the most vocal player when MLB decided to get rid of the American workers that made the hats for the players and move production to cut costs. Liberal player standing up for American workers must be something that doesn’t compute for you.
Now I believe it is you that has your politics wrong. The left has always been a fan of the unions. They have fought for them again and again. The right favors American business. Either way neither one is on the side of the American worker. They are on the side of whomever gives the most campaign slush. Both sides suck and if you only agree with one or the other all the time instead of mixing and matching the best from both then you are a true idiot.
Doolittle? Name checks out, at least for this season.
I will play the baby elephant walk song in his honor! Good luck Red’s , it is your last stand ranch for first place!
Hmm… org making playoff push with serious high-level pitching prospects and clear major league need begins clearing room before September 1st… bring on the gas!
Good call right there…
Dodgers should pounce on Doolittle.
Doolittle could be a useful bullpen improvement for some MLB teams. He’d be a big catch for an NPB team.
Replacing Doolittle with Wilson is lose/lose.
Even as far back when Wilson was a cub, all he’d do is walk the bases loaded.
Giants might take a flyer ?!?!
If the Bums from LA don’t swoop in first.
He was ok when starting a clean inning. Bringing him in with runners on was an absolute disaster.
Only three relievers on the Reds were on the opening day roster. That is Lucas Sims, Tejay Antone, and Amir Garrett. With the depth added from Michael Lorenzen coming back from the 60-day IL, Luis Cessna, Justin Wilson, and Mychal Givens, all acquired via trade, have helped the Reds win the games they should. Jeff Hoffman and Tony Santillan were in the starting rotation mix, but have become real good relievers. The starting rotation is different too. Opening day, it was Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Jeff Hoffman, Jose De Leon, and Wade Miley. Sonny Gray and Vladimir Guitierrez have been added. Departing ways with Sean Doolittle.
Nice Summary!