The Reds announced this afternoon that right-handers Vladimir Gutierrez, Alan Busenitz, Justin Dunn, Brett Kennedy, and Connor Overton have all cleared waivers and been assigned outright to the minor leagues. None of the five had previously been announced as having been designated for assignment, though the quintet have all now been removed from the club’s 40-man roster.
Gutierrez, 28, missed the entire 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was a regular member of the Reds rotation during his 2021 rookie campaign, pitching to a roughly league average 4.74 ERA (99 ERA+) with a 5.76 FIP in 114 innings of work across 22 starts. Gutierrez struggled particularly badly down the stretch that season, with a 9.43 ERA and 7.17 FIP in his last six starts of the season. Prior to that awful stretch, Gutierrez had managed a 3.68 ERA and 4.78 FIP that gave him the look of a solid, back-of-the-rotation arm.
It was strong enough performance to earn Gutierrez a spot in the Cincinnati rotation to start his Sophomore campaign, though he struggled badly with a 7.71 ERA and 6.51 FIP in eight starts that saw him removed from the rotation at the end of May that year. Gutierrez made just two more appearances for the Reds in the big leagues that season before going under the knife in early July. Gutierrez eventually made it back onto a professional mound late in the 2023 season, though he struggled to an 8.31 ERA in 4 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this year. Now that he’s off the club’s 40-man roster seems likely that Gutierrez, who is eligible for arbitration as a Super Two player this offseason, will enter free agency this offseason barring the Reds deciding to both add him back to the 40-man roster and tender him a contract.
Busenitz, 33, has the option to elect free agency rather than accept the outright assignment as a player who’s been outrighted previously in his career, and will qualify for minor league free agency next month regardless. A 25th-round pick by the Angels in the 2013 draft, Busenitz made his MLB debut with the Twins back in 2017, pitching out of the club’s bullpen for two seasons with a 4.58 ERA and 5.49 FIP before joining the Reds on a minor league deal this past offseason. Busenitz was shuttled on and off the club’s roster throughout the season, ultimately posting a strong 2.57 ERA across his six appearances.
Dunn, 28, was a first-round pick by the Mets in the 2016 draft before being shipped to the Mariners in a package that also featured Jarred Kelenic in exchange for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. Dunn made his big league debut for the Mariners back in 2019 and pitched to a 3.94 ERA in 102 2/3 innings of work for the club over three seasons before being traded to Cincinnati in the deal that sent Jesse Winker to Seattle. Dunn struggled badly in 31 innings with the Reds last year, posting a 6.10 ERA in 31 innings before missing the entire 2023 campaign due to a shoulder issue that required surgery in September. Like Gutierrez, Dunn will be eligible for minor league free agency unless the Reds add him back to the 40-man roster and tender him a contract in the coming weeks.
Kennedy, 29, has been outrighted previously in his career, allowing him to elect free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. Like Busenitz, he figures to qualify for minor league free agency next month either way. Kennedy made his big league debut with the Padres in 2018 after the club selected him in the 11th round of the 2015 draft. He struggled to a 6.75 ERA in 26 2/3 innings with San Diego that year and didn’t receive another big league opportunity until this year, when he posted a 6.50 ERA across 18 innings with the Reds.
Overton, 30, has also been outrighted before in his career and will have the option to elect free agency rather than accept his outright assignment, with minor league free agency likely looming next month regardless of his decision. A 15th-round pick by the Marlins in the 2014 draft, Overton made his major league debut with the Blue Jays back in 2021 before being claimed off waivers by the Pirates that September, only to hit free agency after being outrighted off the roster that offseason. With a 4.70 ERA in 15 1/3 innings of work in his rookie season, Overton joined the Reds on a minor league deal and pitched well in 2022, with a 2.73 ERA in six appearances, including four starts. Things came off the rails for Overton in 2023, however, as he struggled to a 11.45 ERA in three starts with the Reds before ultimately undergoing Tommy John surgery back in May.
Typical to see these type of transactions around this time of the year. Have to clear space on the roster for the reinstatement of players on the 60-Day IL
Those players “on” the 60 day IL can remain there until spring training and really opening day to allow teams to “flex” their 40 man roster. These type moves of today really have little to do with reinstatement of players from the 60 day “at this point”.
No, players on the 60-Day IL have to be reinstated at the beginning of the offseason. There is no IL in the offseason.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Vladimir Gutierrez and Justin Dunn are non-tendered. Dunn has never been able to stay healthy, and Vlad is coming off Tommy John.
Why would they do that if they already cleared waivers ? Do they get paid more since they already made the majors prior ?
An outright of a arb player at the beginning of the offseason is the equivalent of a early non-tender
I’m not 100% how that works honestly. They aren’t on a 40-man so the arbitration shouldn’t matter, but what happens if one is added during the season? Do they have to negotiate the arbitration amount or is that done in the off-season in case they get the call up?
If your not on a 40 by the deadline for filing for arbitration then you don’t get the benefit of it. If you don’t sign a MLB contract then you’ll get the minimum rate (if your added to a MLB roster) unless you sign a split contract.
So u get a full ride to play baseball. Get drafted in the third round or later at 21/22. Sniff the big leagues for a couple of seasons at 25/26 and are out of baseball at 28. Your career earnings would be less than 3 million; not super impressive. But on the other hand – that’s not a bad first 10 years as an adult either.
They won’t have to be non-tendered, they’ll be minor league free agents 5 days after the world series ends.
After all roster cuts it’ll end at 35, 5 spots open for new protected players.
Their 40 man is actually at 38 players right now because their of those guys were on the 60 day IL and not taking up a 40 man roster spot. They still have to activate Ashcraft, Sanmartin, and Lodolo from the 60 day IL prior to the 5 days after the World Series ends.
A few players become free agents and will come off the 40 man at that time too (Maile, Farmer, Bader), plus a couple of contracts with option decisions (Votto, Casali). Assuming they don’t work out a new deal with any of them by that point.
The toilet was backed up..Cincy finally gave it a flush!
Or you could say some of the dumpster dive guys like Busenitz and Mariot were sent back to the dumpster.
Little surprised on Dunn, more so than Guti, but it speaks well to not need guys like them anymore. Also a little surprised on Busenitz. Thought we liked him. Ah well, same applies. And thanks for those three starts last year, Connor, when you looked like prime Hendricks
Why are you surprised on Dunn, he had surgery last month and is entering the year with 4 years of service/arb eligible. It’d be unwise to carry him on a 40 man roster all winter when he isn’t going to pitch next season. Same with Busenitz, why surprised at all? He’s 33 and couldn’t crack the Reds 26 man roster 99% of the season. No one should be wasting a 40 man spot on him either.
No surprise on any of these. They need to clear spots for more youngsters. Dunn was a lemon when they got him. Wouldn’t be surprised to see some back on minor league deals.
Vladimir Gu…
… cleared waivers
If their SP can stay healthy in 2024, the Reds are gonna be a very good team. Could even challenge for the top spot in the NL Central since Brewers lost Stearns to the Mets and might lose Counsell to them, as well.
Reds have a lot of exciting young hitters. Might have made the playoffs this year if they hadn’t lost McLain and Ashcraft.
Ain’t gonna be the reincarnation of the Big Red Machine next year, but will be good enough to make the October dance in any number of ways.
Not a big David Bell fan, but I assume the players like him, so there’s that.
Connor Overton’s window moved to the minors.