The Reds announced Monday that they’ve designated veteran right-handed reliever Brad Brach for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster for infielder Kyle Farmer, who has been reinstated from the paternity list.
Brach, 35, joined the Reds earlier this year on a minor league pact and got out to a brilliant start with his new club. Through his first 20 innings in Cincinnati, Brach pitched to a 2.25 ERA with a strong 28.6 percent strikeout rate and a hefty 54.9 percent ground-ball rate. His 10.7 percent walk rate was a bit worse than league average but far from egregious.
It’s been a swift decline for Brach since that time, however. Over his past 15 appearances he’s managed only 10 innings and yielded 16 earned runs on 17 hits and nine walks with nine strikeouts (16.4 percent strikeout and walk rate alike). Brach missed nearly a month with a shoulder impingement along the way, which surely played no small part in his downfall after that hot start.
Brach was one of the game’s steadier setup men during his 2012-18 peak with the Padres and the Orioles. In 449 innings during that time, he logged a 3.05 ERA, fanned more than a quarter of the batters he faced (at a time when the league-wide strikeout rate was lower than it presently is) and averaged fewer than a homer allowed per nine innings pitched (0.92 HR/9) — no small feat given that five of those seasons were spent calling Oriole Park at Camden Yards his home stadium.
Brach has since spent time with the Cubs, Mets and Reds — in addition to a minor league deal with the Royals this past spring. He pitched quite well down the stretch for the ’19 Mets and parlayed that into a 2020 return to Queens, but he was hit hard in 12 1/3 innings last year. The consistency he once enjoyed has begun to elude him, but Brach’s work prior to the shoulder injury this season suggests he’s still a capable reliever when he’s right.
The Reds will place Brach on outright waivers or release waivers in the coming days, and any club will be able to claim him for the final few weeks of the regular season. He’s a free agent at the end of the year.
One of those guys who was really rock-solid for a long time and who is just competent enough that teams keep giving him a chance but honestly he’s never going to be good again.
You know, the unwritten side effects is it seems Barrero is here to stay. Seemed like he would be ticketed to the minors upon Farmers return. Maybe they’ll give Farmer more time as a utility player, covering LF in the meantime.
Brad Brach should be a character on Disney+ Star Wars Bad Batch
10 games against Pitt and 4 with Washington. If they can’t win the 2nd WC, they suck worse than the other mediocre teams chasing them.
the reds and Padres playing like they don’t want the 2nd WC. I would almost bet on St. Louis taking it but I don’t think they have the starters to pull it off.
The Mets’ redemption arc began last night
The Reds are a different team without Winker. 11-14 since he got hurt. However, I pointed out that 14 of their remaining 18 games are against Pitt and WASH. The WC spot is theirs to take.
Rays signing incoming
If there’s hope for Brach, the Rays will bring him onboard. If there’s no hope, there’s always the Pirates!
The Candy Man!
Elmer Fudd claims he’s in pain & suffers from a Brad Brach
Call up Hunter Greene!
GD that would be stupid!
He’s a future red sock.
Dodgers should sign him
But which 6+ ERA reliever will Bell now call upon in key situations? Garrett? Or maybe keep running Sims out there until his ERA gets over 6, maybe that’s it
When you put Brach in a game, hes garenteed to walk 2,3 or sometimes even 4 batters in an inning. I don’t know why teams keep taking chances on him
He was also on the Braves… You missed one.
Back to the candy business, Brad !!
Farmer is an infielder. I also believe he’s probably just as good as Brach on the mound as well.