The Reds are signing a minor league deal with right-hander Chase Anderson, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. Anderson will not receive an invitation to major league camp.
Anderson, 35, spent most of last year in Triple-A, signing minor league deals with the Tigers, Rays and then Reds. He made 16 starts and 11 relief appearances at that level, posting a 4.50 ERA over 80 innings. He struck out 20.9% of batters faced and walked 8.4% of them.
The Reds selected him to their major league roster in August and he tossed 24 innings over nine appearances for them down the stretch. His 6.38 ERA in that time certainly wasn’t pretty, but it’s possible he deserved better than that, as he struck out 22.3% of batters faced and got grounders at a strong 51.6% clip. His 14.6% walk rate was on the high side but his 55.2% strand rate likely played a role in adding some earned runs to his ledger, as his 5.07 FIP and 4.77 SIERA suggest.
Anderson spent many years as an effective starter for the Brewers but things went sideways for him in 2020 when with the Blue Jays. He posted a 7.22 ERA that year and then a 6.75 with the Phillies in 2021. He’ll look to get back on track with a Reds team that doesn’t have much certainty in its pitching staff. The rotation looks to be fronted by three guys who made their debuts last year in Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft. They should be followed by Luke Weaver and Luis Cessa, who have been around a bit longer but Cessa’s had more success as a reliever and Weaver is a few years removed from his last stint as an effective starter. Other options on the roster include Connor Overton, Justin Dunn and Brandon Williamson. The bullpen is headlined by Alexis Díaz, Lucas Sims, Reiver Sanmartin and Buck Farmer but there’s not much certainty beyond that group.
I hope our outfielders are in good shape because they are going to be chasing baseballs all over the place this summer.
Sad news is they only filled one of the two outfield spots they had available
Yeah, the bullpen appears especially weak after Diaz. The OF is right behind the BP.
Instead of guys like Chafin, Smith, Hand, a whole lot of other guys with a real track record they bring back these jokers who gave up bombs. With a 82 million payroll they could have stocked up the bullpen better and helped the young pitchers confidence by not having leads blown.
Pathetic.
Chafin, Smith and Hand want real money and a real roster spot. Relax dude, this is just a signing for organizational depth.
Chafin was actually pretty cheap last offseason and this one (somehow).
Maybe so. But it still eats salaries and positions. Small market teams trying to win don’t waste their time and money in garbage.
Hey TOBTTReds- They finally signed SOMEBODY. Be Happy! LOL
Another long year ! Maybe shoot for 99 loses
The Reds farm system is where the Orioles farm system was 2 years ago. Most of the talent at AA or below. Provided they don’t rush them to the big leagues, that talent will sit at AA or AAA. Sure, it is another rebuild, but the right way if you are small market these days. And yes, it could be a long summer in Cincinnati this year, but there are reasons to hope.
The Reds farm system is where the Orioles farm system was 2 years ago. Most of the talent at AA or below. Provided they don’t rush them to the big leagues, that talent will sit at AA or AAA next year maybe contributing from July 2024 to the big league Reds. Sure, it is another rebuild this year, but the right way if you are small market these days. And yes, it could be a long summer in Cincinnati this year, but there are reasons to hope.
The sad thing is you will have wasted two years of Greene, Lodolo, and Ashcroft and they will have to deal them in year five to get anything for them before they leave for big money. This is the problem with small markets.
Decent depth move, especially with injuries and inconsistency with Weaver.
A cut above a BP pitcher.
Trash
Where ya gonna go reds fans???