The Reds announced last night, before the MLB implemented a lockout, that they had signed five players to minor league deals. They are right-handed pitchers Brandon Bailey and Trey Wingenter, catcher/infielder Andrew Knapp, outfielder Trey Amburgey and infielder/outfielder Allen Cordoba. All five have received invitations to spring training.
Knapp, 30, had been with the Phillies since they selected him in the 2013 draft, seeing MLB action in each of the past five seasons, largely in a reserve capacity. He had a tremendous showing in the shortened 2020 campaign, hitting .278/.404/.444 in 33 games. However, he crashed back to earth in 2021, slashing .152/.215/.214 in 62 games. He was outrighted by the Phillies at the end of the season and elected free agency. The Reds will likely use Tyler Stephenson as their everyday catcher, but after trading Tucker Barnhart to Detroit, there’s room for Knapp to jump into a backup role.
Wingenter, 27, showed some promise out of the Padres’ bullpen in 2018 and 2019. Over those two seasons, he pitched 70 innings, with an ERA of 5.14. His tremendous strikeout rate of 33.1% was offset by a bloated 13% walk rate. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2020 and has been mostly out of action since, though he did get into a handful of Complex League games in August of this year. The Padres non-tendered him earlier this week.
Bailey, 27, was initially acquired by the Reds from the Astros in a 2020 trade. He pitched 7 1/3 innings for the Astros at the MLB level that year, his only big league experience to date. In 2019, he pitched 92 2/3 innings at the Double-A level with an ERA of 3.30. He underwent Tommy John surgery in February of this year and missed the entire season. He was non-tendered earlier in the week, with his return on a minor league deal reported at that time.
Amburgey, 27, was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2015 draft. He made his major league debut this season but was only given four plate appearances in two games. In 71 Triple-A games in 2021, he hit .276/.337/.475, but with a concerning strikeout rate of 28.1%.
Cordoba, who turns 26 in a few days, was a Rule 5 selection of the Padres in 2016 and stayed on the roster for all of the 2017 season. He was only 21 years old at the time and had never played above Rookie ball. He hit .208/.282/.297 that year in 100 MLB games. Since that time, he’s played in the minors for the Padres, spending 2021 at Double-A, hitting .299/.392/.446. He was outrighted off San Diego’s roster last week.
Introducing the NEW 2021 Cincinnati REDS!!!
Professional baseball brought to you by broke ownership
“Billy likes to keep the money on the field”
“Soda money?”
We wait until there is a lockout and then blow the doors off the transaction wire.
On a nonsarcastic note, I would like to see the Reds bring Cueto back just to please the fan base.
It is sad to think that the Reds finished one game ahead of the Braves during the regular season with significant injuries and still the ownership doesn’t understand with the right tweaking this team could win the Central division next season.
Even the Diamondbacks will have a legit closer going in to Spring Training after they signed Melancon. We are okay with pulling names out of a fishbowl.
The fact that we have to hope that the next CBA disincentivizes tanking and “rebuilding” is insane, but there has to be something in place to reestablish that everyone’s goal must be winning at all times in MLB. It has come to this, and it is beyond sad.
little shocking SD kept Cordoba so long and then didnt re-add him before Minors FA. he could finally be on the verge of re-emerging.
Knapp likely to Stephenson’s backup Catcher. Wingenter could have a spot in the bullpen if he’s healthy after TJ surgery in 2020.
No amburgey! Cheeburgey! I’ll be here all week.
All 5 players could make the MLB roster. Not bad signing.
Cordoba is intriguing. At AA last year he showed he can make contact and get on base. And he does have major league experience. And he’s still only 25. If he plays well at AAA this season, I’m sure he’ll find his way to the Cincinnati at some point. Would be quite a story to come back like that, 5 seasons after being a rule 5 pick.
This is so sad that these are the only signings while other teams grab superstars.
Maybe grab Suzuki too as a back-up to Stephenson??
F-n pisses me off, I tell you!
I like that Knapp is listed as an infielder with 20 innings at 1B over 5 seasons
This will be put us over the top lol the REDS haven’t done anything since i was in high school and i am about to be 50. Bob is trash talking all this crap he is Mike Brown in another body