Right-hander Brett Kennedy has returned to the Reds on a minor league contract, according to the transaction tracker at MLB.com. He had elected free agency within a few days of the end of the regular season.
Kennedy, 29, made five big league appearances for Cincinnati last season. He started two of those games, tossing 18 innings of 13-run ball. It was the Fordham product’s first MLB work in five years. His only previous major league experience consisted of six starts for the 2018 Padres.
A former 11th round draftee, Kennedy first signed with the Reds out of independent ball last May. He spent the bulk of the season at Triple-A Louisville. Working out of the rotation, he pitched to a 4.81 ERA through 78 2/3 innings. Kennedy’s 20.8% strikeout rate and 9% walk percentage were each slightly worse than average.
It’d be a surprise if Kennedy is in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot. He showed enough that the organization decided to keep him around as rotation or long relief depth, however. He’ll likely begin the year in Louisville. If the Reds select Kennedy onto the 40-man roster at any point, he can still be optioned to Triple-A for another two seasons.
Let’s Go Red Machine!!!
Brett doesn’t know Jack.
Jack doesn’t know Jill (or Marilyn) supposedly.
Glad they rewarded you with a job sir!
The dumpster diving continues.
Reds used 34 pitchers to get through the 2023 season. They only have 21 pitchers on their 40 man roster. To not sign pitching depth on minor league contracts would be irresponsible. BTW league lowest ERA teams Brewers and Padres used 34 and 30 pitchers respectfully. League WAR best pitching staff (Miami with 22.8 WAR) used 32 pitchers as well..Reds need more Friske, Kennedy signing- no matter whether they sign a FA SP or not.
I have no problem with any of these minor league free agent signings. If all goes as planned they won’t be used much anyway.
My issue has been signing pagan, Martinez and candelario and not signing 2 top of the rotation starting pitchers. Candelario was a decent deal and is a better than average hitter at his position just like McLain, India, steer and Marte are better than average hitters at their positions however candelario is going to take at bats from one of them and that does not really add any more wins to our ledger.
Martinez is either a bullpen guy or a back of the rotation starter 4th or 5th. We already had Greene, lodolo, Ashcraft and Williamson to fill the rolls of 4th and 5th starter and now unless we have another $45 million a year to spend which I doubt we are stuck with Greene and lodolo as the top of our rotation and neither has proven that is what they are.
Then pagan, I suppose if Greene and lodolo and their 4 innings per start is going to be the top of the rotation then this was an ok signing but I believe money would have been better spent to have signed gray and Eduardo Rodríguez that can go 6 innings a start for about the same money we will be paying the guys we have signed next year.
We had a wide open window that unexpectedly started last season but we didn’t trade for a pitcher at the deadline and we have still not signed the type of pitcher we need (actually need 2) for 2024 and have commitments now for 2 and 3 years that might impact us from signing one for 2025.
I think they should wait before signing front of the rotation starters. Even with all the amazing young talent they have they are still 2-3 years away from being a contender. Let Greene, Lodolo and Williamson continue to develop and potentially become that front of the rotation starter they need, or use the excess depth they have to look to acquire a top starter as the team progresses. They are on the verge of something, but investing top dollars on a starter now could backfire, let the young guys play and continue to develop then add to the team when they are truly in a contention window.
We are contenders now. We were last season. We missed the postseason by 2 games to the Diamondbacks who went on to play in the World Series. Had we traded for a pitcher at the deadline we could have made it instead of the diamondbacks.
Going into 2024 we had an infield set for years to come. 1B steer 2 years before arbitration, india 2B first year arbitration, SS McLain 2 years before arbitration, 3B Marte rookie for 2024. Verdict is still out on both EDLC and CES but say one of them hit. Friedl is starting his last year of league minimum and fraley first year arb along with benson 2nd year of league minimum.
I personally thought we should have kept senzel in his 2nd year arb because he hits left handed pitching decent and can play about anywhere. Good platoon type with fraley or benson.
However after cutting senzel and contracts of Votto and moustakis expiring the payroll was down to mid $30 million range and all we needed was 2 stud starting pitchers. We have now spent $36 million in free agency for next year and still lack what we were missing last year. We are right back where we were and likely to barley miss the post season again.
3 years from now the guys like Friedl, McLain and steer would become expensive and we would either have to hope arroyo and collier are as good and trade them or sign them to team friendly deals before.
Williamson does not project as a top of the rotation starter but in 25 or so career starts has met his expectations as a back of the rotation type. Lodolo does project as a top of the rotation type but also in 25 starts has been a back end type. Maybe he can prove he is more.
Greene who projects as an ace and Ashcraft who projects mid rotation have pitched like 5th starters or minor league depth in their 50 career starts. I did this a few weeks ago, go look at strider for the Braves who also has about 50 career starts and same age as green and see how Greene stacks up against him. It is doubtful that Greene is ever going to be the front of the rotation type we hoped he would. I still hope he does become that guy but a hope is not a plan. We need a plan because had we spent our money more wisely this off season yes our time could have been now.
The fact that Kennedy can be optioned for another two seasons is the key here. He will be in Louisville and available as an emergency starter in Cincy. A shuttle signing.
Teams need to be about 60 deep to cover a season. Still; this is a significant reach…