The Reds announced that infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Matt McLain have been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. To open 40-man roster spots for those two, they designated left-hander Brandon Leibrandt and infielder Amed Rosario for assignment. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer relays on X that the moves were necessary because McLain and Encarnacion-Strand are technically on rehab assignments in the Arizona Fall League and they reached their maximum rehab time, therefore needing to retake spots on the 40-man roster.
The Reds suffered a large number of significant injuries in 2024, with McLain and Encarnacion-Strand two of the biggest losses. McLain underwent left labrum surgery in March and was hoping to come back around August. But he suffered a stress reaction in his rib cage while trying to make his way back and ended up missing the entire season.
Encarnacion-Strand played 29 games but may have been playing hurt as he put up a dismal .190/.220/.293 line in that time. He was hit by a pitch on his hand in April and an X-ray revealed an old fracture that CES couldn’t figure out how he suffered. He went on the IL in May with a right ulnar styloid fracture and eventually underwent surgery in June. That procedure came with a three-month timeline and he wasn’t able to return in the remainder of the regular season.
Both players missed significant time in 2024 but apparently got healthy as the season was ending, so the Reds sent both to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League to get some reps before the winter sets in. The Dogs played their first game on October 8 and rehab assignments come with a 20-day maximum for position players. It seems that MLB views their time in the AFL as a rehab assignment, so they had to be reinstated from the 60-day IL today with their rehab window closing.
The moves are largely technicalities, as both players would need to be reinstated from the injured soon regardless. There’s no injured list from five days after the World Series until spring training begins, so all players on the 60-day IL need to be reinstated soon anyway. This rehab formality just forced the Reds to do it slightly ahead of schedule.
Of the two players they bumped off, Rosario was slated to be off the roster soon anyway. He signed a one-year deal with the Rays for 2024, eventually getting traded to the Dodgers before landing with the Reds via waivers. There’s no reason for any club to claim him now, as 28 of the 30 clubs are eliminated. He wouldn’t be postseason eligible with the Yankees or Dodgers since it’s after the September 1 cutoff date. As a veteran with more than six years of service time, he has the right to reject an outright assignment. He’ll soon hit free agency, a few days earlier than anticipated.
Leibrandt, 32 in December, could have been retained for next year as he has less than a year of service time but seemingly wasn’t in Cincinnati’s plans. He signed a minor league deal with the club in May and got added to the roster at the end of August. He stuck on the 40-man for the final month of the season but was mostly on optional assignment. He only got into two major league games this year, allowing seven earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.
He was fairly serviceable in the minors this year, with a 4.41 ERA in 17 Triple-A starts. He had a 22.7% strikeout rate and 6% walk rate. However, he was pitching independent leagues last year and at the start of 2024. As a journeyman sliding towards his mid 30s, he was surely viewed as a temporary option on the club’s roster this year as they dealt with numerous pitching injuries.
As a player with a previous career outright, he has the right to elect free agency as opposed to accepting another outright assignment. Most clubs are facing roster crunches in the coming days, so he’ll presumably clear waivers and return to the open market shortly.
Hey Baltimore, put in a claim for Rosario, and ditch Mateo.
Seems like a lateral move.
At least Mateo can steal bases
Rosario is double figures in steals in every non Covid season since his full debut.
Fair point, but where Rosario may get you 10 Mateo can get you 30
You want to claim him for a week?
Rosario would be a good bench righty in Baltimore
They need more righties since people like Austin slater and Eloy Jimenez doesn’t cut it
It would be cool if they signed Santander and splurged on Tyler O’Neill and trade kjerstad and other blocked prospects for a pitcher
Rays should bring back Rosario, could be useful in the right role.
Doesn’t make sense to put in a claim for Rosario as he will become a free agent after the World Series, unless a team claims him and signs him to an extension
No surprise. There will be a lot of DFAs upcoming.
With numbers like that the Reds may have been better off with Charlie Leibrandt…
Yankees need to claim Rosario as a cheaper alternative to Torres. Jazz to second base and Rosario to third base to compete with Pereza. The only way Soto comes back to cutting payroll and it starts with Torres, Rizzo, Verdugo, Holmes, etc.
Rosario becomes a free agent as soon as the World Series is over. So claiming him makes no sense
ITS NOT A 1% CHANCE THAT SOTO COMES BACK
Why is everyone saying Soto is already a met or dodger??? The Yankees are one of the richest teams they are most likely going to resign him
Alex Rodriguez was resigned, Soto (should be the) same
Does this make the reds better or worse ?
Better.
No change, really.
DFAed Leibrandt and Rosario to make room to add McLain and Strand to the 40 man roster. Much better.
You know your career is starting to go down hill when u are designated for assignment by the Cincinnati reds and it’s not even December yet
Huge mistake. Get ready for more as long as Francona is trying to put his out of touch stamp on the team.
So did Francona break up with your Mommy?
You’re way past tiresome.
What does Francona have to do with it? Rosario was a free agent in 5 days. Leibrant is a 31 year old with 15 career innings. This was a paperwork shuffle to reinstate McClain and Encarnasion-Strand from the 60 day IL.
I don’t understand why teams can’t see Amed Rosarios value as an IF and he can play some credible OF. He makes almost nothing in terms of MLB salaries. He is only 29 years old. Just because he does not have Ozzie Smith defense and range, hardly anyone does. He can play on my team. SMH
I agree ! Why not extend him if reds ? E z park to play in and let all these amazing prospects earn there spot next season instead of giving starting jobs to 24/25 year olds
The Reds could always re sign him. He was going to be a free agent anyway in 5 days. No reason for another team to claim him for 5 days. He’ll be available
Reds have seen enough of McLain and Arroyo in the AFL to know there’s little room (and opportunity) going forward for Rosario with the Reds.They already have EDLC, India, Espinal, and Marte.
They said that before last season then went through a 1/2 a hundred infielders to get through the season. Did they make changes to their injury prevention program and standards ? Haven’t heard one word on any of that and they are consistently in the bottom of league in injuries and missed time
YaGottaBelieveAgain;
He seems to be a tweener.
He has great natural ability. But for some reason he doesn’t come off as particularly athletic. Nor is he consistent in all phases of the game.
He can play SS. But his range and arm are so-so by ML standards, and he’s not a high Baseball IQ guy as is needed at SS. Teams keep passing on him to bring in younger players that they consider to have more raw ability; think quicker; have a lower salary and a higher ceiling.
He’s a team-first guy so he learned to play some OF as well as 2B and 3B. Sadly, he’s not as good at those positions as quality ML utility guys are.
He was team leader on the Guardians with Jose Rameriz and Josh Naylor. A positive. He seems to be a nice guy. Doesn’t get into any trouble.
The problem seems to be that he’s worked himself up to a salary that is more than teams want to play for what he produces. Not into advanced stats, but my guess is that he doesn’t grade out especially well.
He seems to have gotten into a rut where he’s attractive to a team that’s contending but has lost a key player to injury. A placeholder until either the SS comes back from the injury; or if the team is making a playoff run they trade for a better player. If they’re out of contention they’ll push him aside to give playing time to young players up from the minors to try them out at the ML level.
Jorge Mateo was in a similar position until the O’s gave him the SS position while they were rebuilding. But Mateo has large range and a strong arm defensively, that coupled with his speed on the bases can turn games. Amad seldom turns games.
It’s his age….If ya gonna have someone coming off the bench you prefer that person either really young trying to prove themselves or a grizzled vet that had been a good starter previously. Ya don’t want a 30 year old fringe player that can’t stick anywhere.
True. If you are claiming to be a contending team and starting young talent, you want a bench with guys like Donovan Solano, for example.
Reds have a lot of guys on IL to add to the roster plus some young kids to protect. So expect a lot of vets to be DFAed, at least temporarily if not for good. Some will be brought back in camp as non-roster players. You take a chance on losing them, but you have to protect your young talent from being poached.