July 4: Per Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mills has cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A.
July 2: Per a club announcement, the Reds have made a series of roster moves. Cincinnati has designated right-hander Alec Mills for assignment and optioned right-hander Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A. In corresponding moves, the club has recalled outfielder Stuart Fairchild to the majors and activated right-hander Derek Law from the 15-day injured list.
Mills debuted with the Royals back in 2016 but has spent most of his time in the big leagues with the Cubs to whom Kansas City traded him the following year. From 2018 to 2020, Mills served as a solid swingman for Chicago, posting a 3.87 ERA and 4.59 FIP in 116 1/3 innings of work highlighted by a no-hitter against the Brewers during the shortened 2020 season. Since then, however, Mills has struggled mightily at the big league level. In 136 2/3 innings of work in the 2021-22 seasons, Mills posted a brutal 5.66 ERA, 26% worse than league average by measure of ERA+, with a 4.95 FIP. Those numbers prompted the Cubs to outright Mills off the 40-man roster last November, a move that resulted in Mills entering free agency.
He went unsigned throughout the offseason before eventually landing with the Reds on a minor league deal back in May. He posted a 4.09 ERA in 11 innings with the club in the minors before being selected to the roster prior to yesterday’s game against the Padres. Mills entered the game in the seventh for what proved to be a disastrous performance as the righty allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits (including a home run), a walk and a wild pitch while hitting a batter and failing to record a strikeout. Going forward, the club will have seven days to trade, release, or pass Mills through waivers. If passed through waivers, the club can assign him outright to Triple-A, though since Mills has been previously outrighted in his career he could opt to reject that assignment and test free agency.
Salazar, 25, made his MLB debut with the Reds earlier this year. In 12 1/3 innings of work this season, the righty has struggled to an 8.06 ERA and 4.66 FIP. He’ll return to the minors, where he’s posted a 4.03 ERA in 22 1/3 innings split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels, to serve as bullpen depth going forward.
Fairchild, 27, slashed .237/.331/.404 in 184 plate appearances while chipping in eight stolen bases and covering all three outfield spots prior to his demotion late last month. He hit well during his brief stint in Louisville, slashing .240/.296/.680 with three home runs in just 27 plate appearances. Fairchild figures to slot back into the club’s outfield mix alongside TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, Will Benson, and Nick Senzel going forward.
Law, 32, returns to the club after missing six weeks with an elbow sprain. Prior to his trip to the IL, Law was one of Cincinnati’s more effective relievers this season, with a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings of work. That performance is somewhat belied by a 5.09 FIP thanks to Law’s elevated 14.3% walk rate compared to a 22% strikeout rate. Still, Law seems likely to join the club’s late inning mix ahead of closer Alexis Diaz alongside the likes of Buck Farmer and Lucas Sims.
might not seem like a big deal, but these are good moves!
The whole bullpen blew up yesterday, Farmer included.
Overworked. On July 1.
Decisions, or lack thereof, have consequences.
Santillian and Antone return soon. The decision is to stay the course.
ALL THE MLB TEAMS NEEDS TO SIGN THEE FREE AGENTS RIGHT NOW
who speaketh of thee? Lord douchebag?
Thank you Johnny Superscout
Not a great start for his reds career… I don’t think that this one belongs to the reds.
can’t wait for the post that Greene and Ladolo have been activated ….
In August unfortunately. Race may be over by then. Important games coming up. You don’t play your division rivals as much now.
Happy to see Fairchild back!
what a golden opportunity to win this division. I wish there was more urgency regarding starting pitching….im sure Krall has a plan tho.
Let’s hope you’re right. I have little faith after last offseason though.
Hopefully Law can stabilize an overworked bullpen
Ray….did you hear about Reds getting Odor? they could potentially have Law & Odor
Odor would be an odor all right.
Calling up Fairchild gives the Reds an extra position player and leaves them an arm short in the bullpen. Which they obviously can’t sustain for more than a game or two. Must be another move coming soon.
They are NOT an arm short in the bullpen. Fairchild is taking the 5th starter’s spot ‘til Tuesday.
They are not an arm short in the bullpen. They have 8. Fairchild is filling the 5th starter’s spot ‘til Tuesday.
Mills, Fairchild, & Salazar Law Firm
Reds have a September schedule that features 16 home games- and not a single team with a winning record (currently). It may be the other teams in the division which need to “make hay” in July and August. Krall, Bell, and DJ are taking the long approach on this season. Law back, Santillan soon. Antone and Gutierrez , plus Lodolo all back to throwing programs.You know the Reds will add CES, Marte, and/or Connor Phillips on Sept 1st.
Might be a little too early to write this team off, folks. The pitching gets a big boost in August. with a few SP’s back to eat up more innings and the schedule gets more favorable in September as cguy pointed out. Add in this team has more wins on the road than the Brewers. Barring a collapse before the break, they are in a decent spot.