Headlines

  • Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony
  • Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence
  • Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.
  • Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment
  • Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Braves Select Craig Kimbrel
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Reds Release Shogo Akiyama; Expected To Select Drury, Garcia, Farmer

By Anthony Franco | April 5, 2022 at 12:31pm CDT

The Reds announced this afternoon they’ve released outfielder Shogo Akiyama. It had seemed likely Akiyama would be released when the club informed him over the weekend he wouldn’t break camp on the active roster, as his contract afforded him the right to refuse any minor league assignments.

The move closes the book on a disappointing tenure in Cincinnati. Akiyama signed a three-year, $21MM deal over the 2019-20 offseason. Making the jump from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB during the 2020 season was no doubt difficult, as the typical challenges of the new environment were exacerbated by the shortened schedule and pandemic protocols. Nevertheless, the Reds certainly expected better than the .224/.320/.274 line Akiyama posted in 366 plate appearances over the past two years.

Due $8MM in 2022 under the terms of that contract, Akiyama is a lock to clear release waivers. Cincinnati will remain on the hook for that money, minus the league minimum salary if the 33-year-old catches on with another MLB team as a free agent. From the Reds perspective, the release was about reallocating Akiyama’s spot on the active and 40-man rosters.

The Reds don’t have to officially make a call on their Opening Day roster until Thursday, but C. Trent Rosecrans of the Athletic tweets the club is planning to select three non-roster invitees to the big league club. Infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury, catcher Aramís García and reliever Buck Farmer are all expected to break camp.

It would be the eighth consecutive season with some MLB time for Drury. The right-handed hitting utilityman had a couple decent seasons early in his career with the Diamondbacks but has only eclipsed 90 plate appearances once in the past four years. His last extended run in the majors — 120 games with the 2019 Blue Jays — resulted in only a .218/.262/.380 slash, but Drury was alright in a bench capacity with the Mets last year.

García is expected to join the big league club as the backup to Tyler Stephenson. The 29-year-old backstop has suited up with the Giants and A’s in recent years. Over parts of three big league seasons, he’s a .218/.256/.373 hitter. García owns a more impressive .268/.333/.448 line at Triple-A. He seemingly beat out fellow non-roster invitee Andrew Knapp for the backup catching job. Rosecrans tweets that Knapp has been granted his release after being informed he wouldn’t break camp.

Farmer, meanwhile, has pitched in parts of eight big league seasons. He’d spent his entire career with the Tigers but is now in line for his second MLB team. The right-hander posted a sub-4.00 ERA in both 2019-20, but he’s coming off a difficult 2021 campaign. In 35 1/3 innings, Farmer posted a 6.37 ERA with an elevated 12.3% walk rate. He’ll add some multi-inning relief depth for skipper David Bell, though, in hopes of rediscovering his 2019-20 form.

Akiyama’s release clears one spot on the 40-man roster, and the other two seem likely to come from injured list placements. Righty Justin Dunn is out “months” with a shoulder issue and figures to wind up on the 60-day injured list. Bell told reporters (including Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that infielder Max Schrock will be placed on the 60-day IL as well. The 27-year-old is dealing with a left calf strain.

That’ll set the stage for the Opening Day roster, but the Reds figure to require another 40-man roster spot by the middle of next week. As Jesse Borek of MLB.com writes, Cincinnati is expected to promote top pitching prospect Nick Lodolo to make his major league debut when the team first needs a fifth starter on April 13. The team has yet to make a formal announcement, but Lodolo isn’t expected to be assigned to a minor league affiliate. Assuming that plan comes to fruition, the Reds would have to formally select the southpaw onto the major league roster.

Share 0 Retweet 8 Send via email0

Cincinnati Reds Transactions Andrew Knapp Aramis Garcia Brandon Drury Buck Farmer Justin Dunn Max Schrock Nick Lodolo Shogo Akiyama

Offseason In Review: Chicago Cubs
Main
Tommy Davis Passes Away
View Comments (68)
Post a Comment

68 Comments

  1. phillesfan07

    3 years ago

    Sho-Gone!

    6
    Reply
  2. HBan22

    3 years ago

    No mo Shogo.

    8
    Reply
  3. Tacoshells

    3 years ago

    Sho no!!

    5
    Reply
  4. minnesota2887

    3 years ago

    Shogo was the second coming of Tsuyoshi Nishioka

    5
    Reply
    • Maclunkey

      3 years ago

      That’s not a compliment

      5
      Reply
  5. chase071390

    3 years ago

    It’s too bad given how much he was hyped when we signed him. He just couldn’t cut it. Time to move on.

    2
    Reply
  6. Gwynning

    3 years ago

    Good glove, right? Welcome to San Diego?!?

    Reply
    • Ha-Seong Kim

      3 years ago

      Idk bruh haha id give Azocar or Mazara a shot before this guy. Shogo can’t adjust to velo and we need real bats.

      2
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        3 years ago

        It must be really bad if you’re telling him to speed up the bat, Señor Kim! Lol =)

        1
        Reply
        • Ha-Seong Kim

          3 years ago

          Yea haha we don’t need another me -_-

          3
          Reply
  7. 30 Parks

    3 years ago

    Again, NPB is AAAA ball.

    2
    Reply
    • CKinSTL

      3 years ago

      Again, everyone already knows this.

      4
      Reply
      • 30 Parks

        3 years ago

        CK – always a pleasure. Imagine, the nerve of me commenting on a comment board. What was I thinking? Have a good day. I bet you’re a lot of fun on long car rides.

        1
        Reply
        • elmedius

          3 years ago

          Yeah, the best thing on car rides is saying the same things over and over…. and over. Then stopping to beat a dead horse and resuming the repetition.

          5
          Reply
        • CKinSTL

          3 years ago

          I am great fun on long car rides.. mostly because I don’t emphatically repeat common sense statements.

          Seriously though, I’m having a great day and I hope you’re having one too.

          1
          Reply
    • 30 Parks

      3 years ago

      You hear about NPB being AAAA ball? No, it’s true. Lighten up, sweethearts. Be well.

      Reply
  8. Old York

    3 years ago

    $21M over 3 years is good money. Not a complete failure on his part.

    4
    Reply
    • Ham Fighter

      3 years ago

      He’s a rich failure

      1
      Reply
      • Old York

        3 years ago

        @HidekiMatsuimalemodel

        Are you jealous? I wouldn’t mind being a failure at my job and still earning $21M over 3 years.

        2
        Reply
        • Tomahawk Takeover

          3 years ago

          What about his comment screams jealousy? He simply spoke the truth

          3
          Reply
        • Old York

          3 years ago

          @Tomahawk Takeover

          It’s a question. What’s wrong with being a rich failure?

          Reply
        • Deadguy

          3 years ago

          I am

          1
          Reply
        • Ham Fighter

          3 years ago

          IDK ask Putin that question

          2
          Reply
  9. Rowsdower

    3 years ago

    Best move of the off-season

    4
    Reply
  10. Cincyfan85

    3 years ago

    Good riddance.

    2
    Reply
  11. Ham Fighter

    3 years ago

    One of the worst international signing in reds history

    1
    Reply
    • joeshmoe11

      3 years ago

      Alfredo Rodriguez would like a word. Shogo had one good month of real MLB experience. Rodriguez barely made it out of AA

      3
      Reply
      • Ham Fighter

        3 years ago

        So 2nd all time in a 130 yr franchise

        1
        Reply
        • gbs42

          3 years ago

          Not too many intl signings those first 50-60 years.

          1
          Reply
        • elmedius

          3 years ago

          No African Americans until 1954… so yeah. That’s probably accurate.

          1
          Reply
    • gocincy

      3 years ago

      We broke the bank with Tony Perez. On the whole, the Reds are still looking pretty good on international signings.

      Reply
      • Heinouanus

        3 years ago

        Aroldis chapman… raisel iglesias… johnny cueto… tbh the reds have done really well with their international signings until dick and nick took over the front office.

        Reply
  12. Jayswoodie

    3 years ago

    USA… USA… USA!!!

    1
    Reply
    • gbs42

      3 years ago

      what .. What… WHAT???

      1
      Reply
  13. davemlaw

    3 years ago

    This is a great example of how valuable a 40 man roster spot is ESPECIALLY when you’re in full rebuild mode like the Reds. Because there will be some roster casualties in the next few days with more promising players than Shogo just ready to be scooped up by Cincy.

    1
    Reply
    • Armaments216

      3 years ago

      Somehow the Reds valued giving a roster spot to Colin Moran so much they were willing to eat Akiyama’s contract.

      1
      Reply
      • Monkey’s Uncle

        3 years ago

        Yeah if Akiyama is all glove, no bat, then Moran is some bat, no mobility. There’s a reason some Pirate fans called him “Column” Moran; he fields what he gets to, but he has the range of a totem pole.

        2
        Reply
  14. konalawrence

    3 years ago

    I wonder if the Giants see anything in his swing/approach that they think they can work with…

    Reply
    • Ham Fighter

      3 years ago

      Why work with crap

      1
      Reply
      • Poster formerly known as . . .

        3 years ago

        Ask an organic farmer.

        3
        Reply
  15. The best23

    3 years ago

    Japan is a pool league people think they going to be a super star here is ridiculous

    1
    Reply
    • gbs42

      3 years ago

      Ichiro would like a word.

      2
      Reply
      • Rsox

        3 years ago

        Ichiro is an exception, not a rule.

        1
        Reply
        • gocincy

          3 years ago

          Shohei would like a word. Shall we continue? NPB players are signed just like other prospects. Some work out, some don’t. Plenty of Dominican signings go bust, too. I don’t get your point.

          1
          Reply
        • Poster formerly known as . . .

          3 years ago

          The percentage of Japanese position players who’ve managed to stay in the majors for at least three years (77%) is far higher than the percentage of first-round position player draft picks who play that long in the majors (23.6%).

          sabr.org/journal/article/the-chances-of-a-drafted-…

          1
          Reply
        • CubsWin108

          3 years ago

          omg… the number of Japanese position players is like maybe 2 or 1 signed, every couple years, but your trying to compare it to 1st round draft picks, of which there is at least 30 every year.

          Reply
  16. rememberthecoop

    3 years ago

    I know these are excuses, but in addition to what the article mentions, they never even gave him one full season of regular ABs. It’s hard enough to hit a baseball despite all the challenges, but to do it part-time is one of the hardest things in sports. Not saying he would have done any better, but…

    8
    Reply
    • douger007

      3 years ago

      Honestly, I felt the same. Dude never played every day.

      1
      Reply
  17. baseballdadof4

    3 years ago

    all glove and no bat? Send him to the northeast corner of Ohio….he can guard the basement in the AL central with the rest of the outfielders in Cleveland!

    1
    Reply
    • solaris602

      3 years ago

      You got that right! This guy is right up CLE’s alley – league minimum, decent fielder, can’t hit worth a damn. He’ll fit right in!

      Reply
  18. Peart of the game

    3 years ago

    Sounds like Akiyama is going back to Seibu or an NPB team. I was expecting a .750 ops out of Akiyama heading into 2020 but I think he was playing through an injury as his power numbers had historically been much better than that.

    Reply
  19. angt222

    3 years ago

    Shogo maybe lands somewhere as a 4th OF. Happy for Drury, always wanted him to make a comeback.

    Reply
    • Datashark

      3 years ago

      I doubt any team is looking for a powerless, little basepath knowledge, and who claims a negative WAR

      Reply
    • Cosmo2

      3 years ago

      He’s 34 years old coming off a -1.1 WAR season. Who is looking for that?

      Reply
      • Monkey’s Uncle

        3 years ago

        *Ben Cherington slowly raises hand*

        3
        Reply
        • bobtillman

          3 years ago

          That would be the first step, if Ben signs Shogo. Second step that he will avail himself of the CF depth and trade Reynolds.

          1
          Reply
        • Rsox

          3 years ago

          After watching Anthony Alford strike out 15 times in his first 20 AB’s Akiyama might not sound so bad

          2
          Reply
        • Ham Fighter

          3 years ago

          He’s probably a better hitter that Jackie Bradley what he hit like 160 last year… terrible

          1
          Reply
  20. Armaments216

    3 years ago

    As I understand it, if Akiyama signs with a new MLB team he still makes just $8M, with the Reds paying most of that and the new team probably paying league minimum.

    But if he signs back in Japan does the salary offset still apply? Or would he get his $8M from Cincy plus the extra NPB salary?

    Reply
    • LordD99

      3 years ago

      Plus.

      No coordination of salaries between MLB and NPB.

      2
      Reply
      • Armaments216

        3 years ago

        In that case it seems like he’ll almost certainly end up back in Japan right away.

        Reply
        • Gwynning

          3 years ago

          I saw him speak earlier today, he really sounded like he wanted to stay in MLB. He reiterated that it feels like “unfinished business”… I’m not sure either way but he was really emotional and I took him at face value. The question begs- who gives him another chance?

          And just to confirm, LordD99 is correct.

          Reply
  21. douger007

    3 years ago

    Lodolo is the good news here. Hunter and Lodolo. Something to watch, anyway. Unfortunately the rest of the product is crap.

    2
    Reply
    • Dorothy_Mantooth

      3 years ago

      I’m excited to see how Lodolo does this season. I hope they don’t call him up for just the one start and then send him back down. It’s time to see how much he has developed and if he’s ready for MLB this year or not. Unless he gets tattooed in his first couple of starts, they really need to give him 4-5 starts to see if he can handle MLB hitters at this point in his career. If he has a bad start in his debut and they send him down to AAA right after that, it could really affect the mental part of his game. Give him a chance to get a good sample size in before making the final decision on where he’ll play most of his games this season.

      Reply
  22. BPrice's 77 F-Bombs

    3 years ago

    Good news about Lodolo, and Green, the future is bright. Now if only C Trent would get released, Tool of the Year.

    1
    Reply
  23. Heinouanus

    3 years ago

    Aroldis chapman… raisel iglesias… johnny cueto… tbh the reds have done really well with their international signings until dick and nick took over the front office.

    Reply
  24. NoKluReds

    3 years ago

    Whoever scouted and recommended signing Akiyama should be hanged, drawn, and quartered – and then spit on and kicked. And then made to eat his weight in sushi. His bat is way too slow thru the strike zone to have any meaningful impact.
    Am also bummed that we won’t get to see Greene and Lodolo in Louisville this year. Was really looking forward to seeing them on a regular basis.

    Reply
  25. CubsWin108

    3 years ago

    woah… I never actually looked at his stats to see how awful he was… WOW… at first I was questioning this move, now I understand it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    AJ Smith-Shawver Diagnosed With Torn UCL

    Reds Trade Alexis Díaz To Dodgers

    Recent

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Red Sox Designate Robert Stock For Assignment, Select Brian Van Belle

    Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

    Rich Hill Has June 15 Opt-Out In Royals Deal

    AJ Smith-Shawver Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Poll: What Will The Rangers Do At The Deadline?

    Mets Select Justin Garza

    Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast

    Latest On Dodgers’ Rotation

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version