TODAY: The Reds placed Warren on the 60-day injured list, and activated right-hander Daniel Duarte from the 60-day IL in the corresponding move. Duarte made his MLB debut with three appearances for Cincinnati in April, but he has missed most of the season due to elbow problems. The Reds will keep Duarte in Triple-A rather than promoting him to the big league roster.
SEPTEMBER 24: Reds right-hander Art Warren recently underwent a surgery to fix some UCL damage in his throwing elbow, manager David Bell told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon). The procedure wasn’t a Tommy John surgery, as Bell noted that it didn’t involve ligament replacement.
While Warren has seemingly avoided the worst-case scenario of a TJ surgery, it isn’t yet known when he might return to the mound, or if his readiness for the start of Spring Training or even Opening Day 2023 is now in question. Warren was placed on the Triple-A injured list earlier this week, and he spent over six weeks on the Reds’ IL earlier this season due to a right flexor pronator strain.
Between these injuries and an oblique strain that resulted in a 60-day IL stint in 2021, Warren has had trouble staying healthy since being acquired by the Reds in January 2021. The right-hander did post a 1.29 ERA over 21 innings in 2021, but his ERA (6.50), strikeout rate (24.2%) and walk rate (13.3%) were all much worse over his 36 frames of work this season.
Cincinnati was set to give Warren a look at closer heading into the season, but his struggles and injuries cost him any chance of locking down a substantial late-game role. Unless the Reds simply don’t trust Warren’s health, it’s likely that the 29-year-old and local product will get another shot in the bullpen mix next season. Since Warren isn’t arbitration-eligible until the 2024-25 offseason, there isn’t any real financial cost to the Reds in giving Warren another look. Because he was in the minor leagues at the time of his injury, Warren won’t accumulate any MLB service time while he recovers.
The Reds have a major roster crunch coming, Warren is the type of player you don’t carry on the 40 man all winter. Outright him, let him declare FA as a minor league free agent and then if you want to give him another chance sign him to a new minor league deal with a spring invite.
I can see keeping him around until he’s arb eligible and evaluating him from year to year. He’s a low cost bullpen arm who has shown flashes of potential as seen in 2021.
They have 52 guys on their 40 man roster including 60 Day-IL guys, they’ll have to add at least a half dozen to protect from Rule 5. There simply isn’t enough room for 30 year olds who have yet to prove they deserve a big league job.
I’m with you on clearing Warren’s roster spot. Although there’s plenty of roster filler available to trim too. The Reds have about 4 extra backup catchers, a bunch of AAAA outfielders and at least half a dozen arms they claimed off the scrap heap to play out the string in 2022. And Mike Moustakas.
I hope Art understands he did this to himself. It’s easy to blame his elbow or his father but ultimately it was his doing.
Again, the team needs to look at the training methods for players, especially pitchers. This isn’t all the abbreviated spring training.
I think at this point they should DFA him start thinking about the future.
I can’t see Warren making the Reds BP out of ST next year. If healthy, Antone, Diaz, Sims, Santillan, & Hoffman are in. Pick 3 of Sanmartin (LHP), Cessa (if not in rotation), Law, Giabult, & F. Cruz.. That’s not adding anyone, which I hope the Reds do. Art probably loses his roster spot this winter- just a numbers game.
Don’t forget Vladimir Gutierrez
Investing in Art always a good move
How Great Thou Art
Move on. Good luck to him.
Nothing good will ever happen with this org until ownership sells. They don’t get it.. If the path is clear they will throw things in the way to create confusion and chaos. Their medical staff stinks.