TJ Friedl was (retroactively) placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain on May 12, and the thought at the time was that Friedl might only miss the minimum 10 days, given that the Reds were somewhat on the fence about whether or not to even place him on the IL. As it turns out, Friedl might indeed be back quickly, as manager David Bell told reporters (including the Cincinnati Enquirer’s duo of Charlie Goldsmith and Bobby Nightengale) that Friedl will take live batting practice on Monday, and could be activated from the IL for Tuesday’s game if all goes well following the BP session.
It’s a relief on a few levels for Friedl and the Reds, since even minor oblique injuries can linger for weeks on end, and because Friedl has been a big part of Cincinnati’s lineup. More or less alternating between center and left field, Friedl leads the Reds with 1.2 fWAR, owing to his overall contribution as a defender, baserunner, and hitter. Friedl has hit .306/.351/.468 with three homers over 138 plate appearances, albeit with some good fortune — the outfielder has a .376 BABIP, and his .354 wOBA is far greater than his .283 xwOBA.
Fernando Cruz might also be nearing a return, as the right-hander started a Triple-A rehab assignment today. Cruz has missed the last three weeks due to a shoulder strain, and the team’s plan is to give him three rehab outings before potentially reinstating him from the 15-day injured list next week. Cruz had a 6.59 ERA over 13 2/3 relief innings before hitting the IL, though the last 2 2/3 of those innings (and three of Cruz’s 10 earned runs allowed) came after Cruz said he started to feel discomfort in his throwing shoulder.
The Reds placed Henry Ramos on the 10-day IL yesterday due to a right hip strain, and Bell said that Ramos will receive an MRI on Monday. Friedl’s impending return means that Cincinnati probably won’t be shorthanded in the outfield for too long, but the MRI should reveal how long Ramos might be out of action.
Joey Votto has yet to play this season, but the longtime Reds star might be a bit closer to a return, as he participated in live batting practice with the Reds’ Triple-A club in Louisville today. Votto will be re-evaluated tomorrow as the Reds try to determine whether or not the first baseman might be able to restart his rehab assignment.
After undergoing season-ending rotator cuff and bicep surgery last August, Votto has been taking a cautious path, as his recovery process delayed his Spring Training work. Votto began the season on the 10-day injured list but played 10 games during a Triple-A rehab assignment in April before the assignment was paused, as Votto wasn’t nearly ready to return before the end of his 20-day rehab window. After another month of treatment and ramping up his baseball activities, Votto now looks like he might be able to take the field again in Louisville. The Reds moved Votto to the 60-day IL, so he isn’t eligible to return until the end of May anyway, though he will surely take longer than that to get fully ready.
Bring up de la Cruz strand and Abbott. Let’s see if this team can compete
I believe they could have all along with a couple veteran starters and a better bullpen. Look at all the one run losses that could have been at least partially turned around.
Need to move on from Votto. He’s old, Reds are in a rebuild. Send him to Cleveland who is getting next to nothing from their 1B.
Votto had a couple good yrs, but was really never the type of player that a small market team should sign to a 10 yr 200M deal. Even when he’s good, he’s a one tool player and there are tons of unemployed 1bman out there.
Votto has the right to veto any trade. He’s repeatedly indicated he’s not interested in going anywhere.
Didn’t realize that. Typical “screw the team, I’m in it for me” attitude.
Who the heck is going to trade anything for votto at this point. There is something to be said about players who are one team only guys especially when they are at least fringe hall of fame types.
You could make a case for votto being the greatest red, and he certainly is a top five one.
He was also a guy that hit for power hit for average and could take more than his share of walks. He was hardly a one tool guy.
No one forced reds to sign him. No one forced them to allow him to get no trade rights. He is hardly a me first player when he executes ssid rights he’s earned any more than a great player leaving a team to get more money is.
No one is offering anything for him. Even if the reds pay every cent owed. He’s injured and didn’t produce at all last year.
There are plenty of players available that are worth taking a chance on
He also won a gold glove, so add another tool. Hit, Power, and Field. He’s probably borderline HOF, but certainly not top 5 Red of all time. The Big Red Machine could almost knock him out of that ranking alone.
As opposed to “thanks for all your contributions, now get out” attitude of a team that wants to dump a longtime, single-team star?
Yeah why would a guy care more about his own interests than those of some billionaire owner?
Top 5. Keep smoking
He has been a mess for the last four out of five seasons. If you’re not the future, you’re the past. Good riddance. Overrated, poor fielder, horrible leader.
This take is terribly timed. He’s a Cincinnati legend in the final year of his contract. They pretty much are moving on. They aren’t resigning him unless it’s for pennies and sentiment.
No one was counting on Votto until at least June with that kind of injury, despite what folks might think.
The way Steer has played, they have been well covered at first base.
It will be interesting to see what happens when they bring CES and EDLC up, where everyone is positioned because McLain and Steer are solid as well. Personally I would have had Eddy learn CF. I see a lot of Eric Davis in him.
If they were going to make Elly change positions they would have done it before he was in AAA and on the verge of a call-up. I think they learned their lesson with Senzel and messing with a rookie making a position change right as he makes it to The Show.
The point was they should have done it already. You can’t play half a dozen guys at shortstop at one time and expect them to produce playing part time.
EDLC will be the starting shortstop once he is called up. His elite arm is much more important at SS than it is at CF. McLain spent some time in CF in the minors and will be sliding there, or elsewhere, once EDLC is here.
Benson brought up hitting 198 in aaa way greet thinking front office are u dum or just stupid bring up some off players Cruz ces pitcher abbott see what they can do we have 3 off players now india steer Fraley
Votto simply isn’t ready for ML pitching- and may not be for some time. I don’t get it that people complain about bringing up prospects too soon, then too late, then being blocked, then changing positions. Frankly, Krall has done a good job, and so has the coaching staff. There;s a big difference between being competitive and being a winning team. Reds have become competitive, but still have a ways to go. BTW, Reds have 10 pitchers on the IL. Just too many for a small market team to bear- and win regularly.
Aside from marrying Elvis Costello, I agree that Krall has made all the right decisions.
What’s so funny about peace, love, and marrying Costello?