The Reds and Red Sox have each announced that right-hander Brian Van Belle has been traded to Cincinnati in exchange for cash considerations. Boston designated Van Belle for assignment earlier this week, and he has now been assigned to Triple-A Louisville.
It has been a busy six days for Van Belle, who joined a big league roster for the first time on Monday when the Sox selected his contract from Triple-A. Van Belle’s cup of coffee in Boston came and went without an official in-game appearance, so the 28-year-old is still awaiting his Major League debut. Since Van Belle has experience as both a starter and a reliever, his first MLB game might well come with the Reds in a number of different roles if the club makes the call to Louisville.
Van Belle began his pro career with the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2020, though he almost surely would’ve been selected if that year’s draft hadn’t been shortened to five rounds due to the pandemic. Working his way up to Triple-A Worcester by the 2023 season, Van Belle has a 4.48 ERA, 21.7% strikeout rate, and 6.97% walk rate over 205 career innings at the Triple-A level. He has started 29 of his 55 Triple-A games, working primarily as a reliever in 2024 and getting most of action as a starter in 2023 and 2025.
On paper, Van Belle might fit best in the majors as a multi-inning reliever, though Cincinnati will probably consider him for at least spot-start duty should a need arise within the rotation. Ace Hunter Greene is on the 15-day injured list and seems likely to miss the rest of June while dealing with a groin strain and back/hip tightness, leaving the Reds a bit short on rotation depth now that Wade Miley has joined the starting five in Greene’s place.
A 28 year old suspect is just the kind of dumpster diving these guys love.
Heaven forbid they acquire a real major leaguer for a so called contender.
It’ll be interesting to see what he does, given an actual chance. This article is misleading in focusing on his lump of AAA back to 2023.
In 2025, he’s sported a 2.29 era across 51 innings, with a 1.059 whip, and, only taking a single loss to his credit. He made 8 starts, going 5-1.
This isn’t bottom of the dumpster fodder
As a BOS fan, roster churn moves for things like, especially without any meaningful return, puzzle me.
I feel like the loss of BVB was bad management, and the FO shouldn’t hide behind the usual cliche on how relievers are all “fungible.” It’s quite possible that BVB will be the cost of giving Anthony a short and fruitless stint in the majors when he’s sent down to let Wilyer back onto the 26-man. Van Belle should at least have gotten a shot at a couple of innings–at age 28, he might now be rounding into useful form, making him preferable to Z Kelly (whose entrance into a game signals to me, “Oh, Cora has decided to lose this one”).
And what game should he have been given a chance to pitch in exactly? Monday on a tie game late or in extra innings? Tuesday protecting a 3-1 lead? You think tossing him into either of those just to see what he could do would’ve been proper managing?
GaSox – It’s all about having fresh arms available after Cora burns the regulars, nothing more.
Fever, I’d believe it, *if* his arm was ever even used… except it wasn’t.
They let noda walk for nothing, when he was arguably a better upgrade than who the CHW traded for civale. They paid a prospect, granted a-ball, but looked OK for the limited exposure, for a guy who had been shelled this year, and, seems to be less potent than BVB.
I scratch my head a lot these days…
GaSox – Fresh arms are insurance policies, not always needed. Bello pitched halfway through the 7th and Guerrero pitched over 2 innings.
These AAAA pitcher callups are just a way to skirt the 13-pitcher limit.
Fever, who do you think has more promise? The guy who went 5-1 with a low 2s era in AAA, or, the scrub they gave up an actual prospect for who’s got nearly a 9 era this season?
GaSox – I meant to add in my prior post, I don’t necessarily agree with cycling AAAA pitchers on and off the roster like Cora does ….. I’m just explaining why Cora does it ;O)
To answer your question, in this case I’m not in a position to make that decision because I don’t know what the heck was going on in Minnesota with Alcala. When it comes to players from other teams, we just don’t know unless we follow that team. For instance the Pirates “fixed” Chapman midseason last year, I wasn’t aware of it until now.
Normally I wouldn’t be happy acquiring a guy with Alcala’s current numbers, but he was very good last year and seems to be a change of scenery and new voice candidate.
As for Van Belle, he was pretty bad last year (looking at his WHIP) and I can’t help but be skeptical of a guy who has never thrown a pitch in MLB and yet will be 29 in a couple months.. He’s really shown nothing yet to be given a chance in the majors? That’s a concern.
To summarize, I don’t know enough to make an educated decision here …… but in general, I’d rather gamble on a guy who has had recent MLB success than on a guy who is almost 29 and has never thrown a MLB pitch. Success in the minors quite often doesn’t translate to success in the majors.
Sorry I know that’s not what you want to hear! BTW – Hope you’ve been getting some sleep recently, I know how it feels to go without sleep and it really sucks.
Meanwhile Trevor Bauer is still available for the league minimum…
collusion.
just like Bonds who had 28Hrs his final year easily would have been signed if not for baggage. granted baggage is different but result is same
Like Steve Clevenger and Anthony Bass, too.
no surprise you’re taking up for bad people and their terrible behavior lowenstein.
Bauer is a tool. I wouldn’t want him on my team. Ignore the allegations from the bedroom and focus on his videos/casts he recorded and put out there.
It’s not a guy I want in the locker room, with his drama, his attitude. Let him play overseas
That’s fine. But he won a Cy Young in Cincinnati and it’s ridiculous he’s not pitching but they’ll spend money on this clown.
nothing ridiculous about it. I don’t dismiss his bedroom stuff but even beyond that he’s a massive DB plus that cy young happened in 2020 in a shortened season. The majority of his career he was mediocre pitchers whose talent wasn’t good enough to make up for his terrible personality.
Who?
AAA depth option
You can’t read?