The Reds have signed right-hander Michael Mariot to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He has been assigned to Triple-A Louisville.
Mariot, 34, has 44 games of major league experience, which came with the Royals and Phillies back in the 2014-2016 seasons. He has a 5.98 career ERA in 49 2/3 innings with a 20% strikeout rate, 12.4% walk rate and 34.2% ground ball rate.
Since that time, he has been bouncing to various different organizations. He signed a minor league deal with the Phillies in March of last year and was traded to the Tigers in June for cash, though neither club called him to the majors. He made 15 starts and three relief appearances on the year, posting a 4.90 ERA in 79 innings. He struck out 16.3% of opponents while walking 9.3%. He then spent some time with the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan.
For the past few months, he’s been with the Cleburne Railroaders of the independent American Association of Professional Baseball. He had a 5.06 ERA there but with 29 strikeouts and just five walks in 26 2/3 innings.
The Reds have dealt with a number of injuries to their pitching staff, with Graham Ashcraft landing on the injured list just yesterday. He joined Justin Dunn, Vladimir Gutierrez, Nick Lodolo, Connor Overton, Tejay Antone, Derek Law, Casey Legumina, Reiver Sanmartin and Tony Santillan on the list of Cincinnati hurlers currently on the shelf. It’s unclear whether they plan to deploy Mariot as a starter or reliever but he will give them some experienced non-roster depth either way. If he earns his way onto the roster, he is out of options but has just over a year of service time.
I wish it said Rhys Hoskins signed a minor league deal
Always had a nice, clean room in his hotels.
A guy who last pitched in the big leagues seven years ago. Really. You can’t call it dumpster diving anymore because now they are seeing what’s under it.
It’s amazing how worked up you get over minor league roster filler.
It’s amazing you don’t realize they end up in the big leagues as bad bullpen options.
But then again, you just want to troll people with an actual opinion.
Do you actually think this guy will have his contract selected?
Would I? No.
But they’ve all seemed to make it up there so far with all the injuries.
I’m expecting more injuries, honestly, as the same guys in the bullpen are getting overworked getting to Diaz. Especially concerned about Sims, who has an injury history.
The good news is there are a lot of decent bullpen guys on the injured list they should be getting back the next couple of months.
Apologies for coming off dickish earlier to you. Law has had a decent if not lucky showing this year and should be back sooner then later to soak up innings. But yeah once the pitchers start coming off the 60day I expect the bullpen to stabilize and these recent minor deals like Brett Kennedy, Alec Mills, Ryan Meisinger etc to be cut around draft time.
There’s a name we haven’t heard in a very long-time
Reds out here reminding everyone that, despite the exciting rookies/prospects, they’re still an embarrassment.
Someone has to start games at Louisville until they’re ready to promote AA guys. Abbott and Williamson in Cincinnati now. This is third similar signing they’ve made recently.
Reds signed 6 pitchers in May (after trading Chase Anderson for cash). Franklin German, Brett Kennedy, Alec Mills, Ryan Meisinger, Teddy Stankiewicz,& Shea Spitzbarth.
Those 6 plus Mariot have pitched 69.1 innings with a combined 4.93 ERA in the Reds minor league organization. They were needed
I bet his stuff would play best in Itchycoo Park.
If he is facing big-league hitters he’ll be eating lots of Humble Pie.
The Reds gave Mariot a rewards program.
But checkout is still at 11AM.
But will they leave the light on for him?