The Reds announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Rhett Lowder, a promotion that was previously reported, while also appointing righty Yosver Zulueta the 27th player for the double-header. In corresponding moves for Lowder, they optioned left-hander Brandon Leibrandt and designated infielder Davis Wendzel for assignment.
Wendzel, 27, was acquired from the Rangers in a cash deal at the end of July after Texas had designated him for assignment. He was sent to Triple-A Louisville, where he has slashed .233/.327/.279 in his 101 plate appearances, production that translates to a 66 wRC+.
With the trade deadline in the rear-view mirror, the Reds will have to place Wendzel on waivers in the coming days. Though his recent output wasn’t great, he could garner interest based on his larger track record. Prior to the deal, he had hit .289/.384/.492 in 151 plate appearances for Triple-A Round Rock, leading to a 117 wRC+.
He also hit 30 home runs for the Express last year and drew walks at a 14.1% clip. His .236 /.361/.477 batting line only translated to a 101 wRC+ in the heightened offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League, but that may have been held back by a .259 batting average on balls in play. His BABIP corrected to .298 with Round Rock prior to the deal, roughly average, which helped nudge his wRC+ up.
At a minimum, Wendzel provides defensive versatility, with the ability to play all four infield positions. He also has a full slate of options and just a few days of service time, meaning he wouldn’t need an immediate roster spot and comes with years of club control. Despite the offensive downturn since coming to the Reds, he had been hitting pretty well at the Triple-A level in 2023 and in the first few months of 2024.
The overall package could perhaps entice some club to put in a claim. He doesn’t have a previous career outright, nor does he have at least three years of service time, so he would stick with the Reds in a non-roster capacity if he goes unclaimed.
Mr. Wendzel made an ill advised appearance on the 40 man roster which amounted to…nothing.
If I only had a dollar for every daily, in-season MLB transaction I’d be a very, very rich man.
Vinny Nittoli, Anthony Gose, and Amed Rosario would have made you rich by themselves
You can buy a pizza just from the Marlins yo-yoing Emmanuel Kent all season
Bobby Dalbec bought me a tank of gas (diesel) a couple years ago
Well done lol
A little concerned about bringing up Lowder. A year ago, Reds were short-handed of sp and brought up Connor Phillips (5 starts; 6.97ERA), Lyon Richardson (4starts; 8.64 ERA), and Carson Spiers (2 starts; 6.92 ERA). Subsequently, Phillips and Richardson have been lost.Although Spiers has found some traction. I’d hate to see that kind of thing happen to Lowder &/or Aguiar
Back in the day what you said would probably make more sense from a business perspective of managing young pitching prospects. Today, the weight training programs and poor pitching mechanics being taught( ( sign tall guys, stand up almost straight not using your body etc and throw downhill) are an arm injury waiting to happen. Throwing harder alone puts more stress on the elbow and shoulder. along with bulking up muscles, tendons etc.. All lead to early injuries to the arm and shoulder.. One school of thought (if you are going to teach all that) is get them to the majors as soon as possible and get what you can out of them before the inevitable arm or shoulder injury. Throwing more sliders, cutters, splitters than the old days takes it toll on the arm and shoulder as well. Throwing overhand and hard is an unnatural motion for the human body. and an injury waiting to happen. The old drop and drive pitching mechanics that pitchers such as Tom Seaver mastered lead to much less arm and shoulder injuries although being somewhat easier to hit. It puts a lot of the stress on the legs taking some of it off the arm..