The Reds recently re-signed reliever Hunter Strickland to a minor league contract. The 6’3″ righty made his first appearance of the season for their top affiliate in Louisville over the weekend, throwing a scoreless inning.
Strickland has been on and off the Cincinnati roster a few times of late. He spent the 2022 campaign with the Reds, coming out of the bullpen 66 times. Over 62 1/3 innings, he worked to a 4.91 ERA with worse than average strikeout, walk and ground-ball marks. He fanned 21.1% of opponents, walked batters at a lofty 11.6% clip and induced grounders on 38.8% of batted balls.
At season’s end, Strickland hit free agency. He re-signed with Cincinnati on a minor league deal in February. Strickland threw nine innings in as many appearances this spring. He was hit hard, surrendering ten runs (including a trio of homers). Unsurprisingly, that wasn’t enough to earn him an Opening Day roster spot. Strickland had an automatic opt-out chance on March 25, as per the collective bargaining agreement. The Reds released him, either because he triggered the opt-out or in anticipation of him doing so.
It didn’t take long for him to circle back to Cincinnati on a new minor league pact. That’s not an uncommon course of action for veterans in that situation. It’s possible the new minor league deal contained altered opt-out dates or tweaked his salary while guaranteeing the Reds some experienced bullpen depth headed into the season.
Strickland has pitched in parts of nine MLB campaigns. He owns a 3.41 ERA in 374 2/3 innings, striking out 22.2% of batters faced in his career. The Reds are one of eight teams for which he has suited up at the highest level.
I’d rather have Hunter Strickland over half the Mets bullpen. This guy needs an organization that can support him. The Reds have used him wrong. Hes not a closer or an 8th inninh guy. Hes a 6th inning guy that should be reliable
Really? Your bullpen is decent, I would gladly take the Mets bullpen or Strickland, dude is a dark horse.
@fre5hwind I disagree, I think our bullpen is horrible. Outside of Ottavino and Robertson, no one else is any good. Tommy Hunter’s back surgery has made him bad. Drew Smith and Nogosek belong in Triple A. Dennis Santana walks to many batters for my liking even though hes thrown 3 scoreless innings this year and hasn’t been walking anyone, from what I’ve seen before he wasn’t any good. I’d take Bundy and Strickland over all those guys. Raley isn’t any good either, he had a lucky season last year with the Rays but I have 0 faith in him. Curtiss isn’t any good
I respectfully disagree, this guys are really solid IMP would definitely take their bullpen. As for Bundy I still believe in him.
@fre5hwind Raley just gave up
4 runs in an inning, I was right again
“Right”? I said IMP.
You can have him. He sucks.
Too bad Harper isn’t healthy.
Hot headed man child who is a me first teammate
There is no I in team. But there is me.
Buck must be so. proud. I bet the Reds get a good deal on propane and propane accessories and their minor league affiliate gets that sweet sweet sponsorship.
Hey!! Propane language ain’t allowed in here!!
I tell you whut
Dang it, Bobby/Dale/Bill, etc. but that John Redcorn… good guy.
Nice, zero risk signing for a reliever with a track record. Strickland can be flipped at the deadline for additional prospects for the rebuild. Jorge Lopez was a failed starter in Baltimore headed into 2022. Elias ultimately cashed him in at the for Cade Povich, now the #64 prospect.
They just can’t quit him.
Don’t ask me why. Throws gasoline on the fire.
But I agree he is not a backend guy, more a throw him in during a blowout guy.
He’s desperately trying to get that one more year so he can get his pension
Pick a lane dadgumit
Hunter Strickland is still a serviceable innings eater, but should not be used as a setup man or closer. But he couldn’t make the Reds BP & will have even less of a chance after the return of Sims & Santillan. Reds bullpen has a decent floor, but a low ceiling after Diaz.
Talk about a pitcher whose stuff doesn’t justify his locker room presence. This guys a total head case, bad news Strick.
He sucks.
Strickland needs a rematch vs Harper
Harper vs Strickland
Here we go again. Why can’t the Reds just leave this guy alone? He was awful last year in higher leverage situations so you can’t use him when the game is on the line. As for using him in low leverage situations – WHY? We have a dozen guys who can do that already. He was bad last year, worse in spring training, and he’s not suddenly going to bounce back. There’s little to no chance he’ll perform well enough to be flipped so he’s just baggage. No serious contender would even consider adding him to their roster.
Let’s get ready to ruuuuuumble
Oh lort