The Reds announced they’ve re-signed righty Carson Spiers to a minor league contract with an invite to big league camp. Spiers will not be able to pitch in Spring Training anyhow, as he’s working back from July elbow surgery that’ll cost him most of the ’26 season.
Spiers was one of three players, along with Will Banfield and Roddery Muñoz, whom the Reds dropped from the roster at last week’s non-tender deadline. Spiers had technically been designated for assignment a few days earlier as Cincinnati created space to add three Rule 5 eligible prospects to the 40-man roster. They waited until the non-tender deadline to resolve the DFA, which meant they didn’t need to expose him to waivers. That’s a common tactic for teams to try to re-sign those players to minor league deals, keeping them in the organization without requiring a 40-man spot.
The 28-year-old Spiers has pitched in each of the past three big league seasons. He’s a depth arm who has started 14 of 29 career outings. Spiers carries a 5.69 earned run average across 117 innings. His 19.3% strikeout percentage and 9.4% swinging strike rate are each middling and he’s had a difficult time keeping the ball in the park. Most of Spiers’ big league experience came in 2024, as shoulder and elbow injuries cost him almost all of last season.
While Spiers has yet to find much in the way of MLB success, he owns a decent 4.08 ERA in almost 400 minor league innings. He has fanned nearly a quarter of opponents against an 8.9% walk rate. Spiers sits around 92 MPH with his four-seam and sinker while using three more pitches (sweeper, cutter and changeup) with regularity. He’ll remain with the organization that initially signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and attempt to pitch his way back onto the roster once he has put the elbow injury behind him.
So basically Krall still has those handprints on his posterior from sitting on his hands
At first I thought what are you talking about and second thought was I don’t really care.
Sitting on his hands? It just started. There’s been 1 trade of any significance and I don’t believe any significant FA signing.
I’m a reds fan, but damn if our fans don’t irritate me with their whining.
Cincy has some of the best and most loyal fans in MLB. They generally have thoughtful comments and insights. “This one” is the exception to the rule. Dad gave too many whipping and momma not enough hugs.
I’m a reds fan, and I’m shocked we have any fans under the age of 40. The org certainly hasn’t earned any.
Mrkinsm- I know by experience it is tough being a reds fan. No WS and few playoff appearances in 45 yrs. But the FO has drafted well the last few years after years of horrible picks. They’ve made a few good trades lately Singer-India for example. They’ve hired a reputable manager and are poised to compete for the postseason for the next 2-3 yrs. We’ll see over this winter if they take a step forward and get the power hitter we desperately need. I MO Krall has made considerable progress in building this franchise to where it is and deserves a chance and Castellini needs to step up and put us over the finish line.
Whining about whiners is worse. This organization deserves every piece of criticism it gets. Nick Krall would be a tickets salesmen for any other team but he runs the Reds.
Another fantasy baseball geek that thinks they know baseball. Krall stole Singer. Drafts have been great lately. All 3 players the Reds acquired at the trade deadline helped. Hayes, Andujar and Littel all contributed and it didn’t cost anything by way of prospects. He’s made some bad free agent signings but who hasn’t? He’s also didn’t make deals that he got criticized for not making that turned out to be the right move. Everyone wanted Luis Robert and he didn’t want to give up a few top prospects. That turned out right. Most fans wanted the Reds to sign Santander and he was hurt and was terrible. Krall can only make moves within a budget
But whining about someone whining about whiners is better.
A little bit ironic, don’t you think?
Franklin. Awfully harsh for a team who made the playoffs. I assume you ate comparing us to the Mets, Phillies and Dodgers? At least state what your beef is?
He’s done a pretty decent job. Not sure what you expect honestly.
It’s a yearly event if anyone has been paying attention.
The Reds made plenty of moves last year. They got Hays, Lux, Singer, and Trevino before the season and added 3 players at the deadline. I know guys that play fantasy baseball don’t believe a team is doing anything unless they acquire Soto, Ohtani or Schwaber
The Reds would never acquire any of those guys and you know it.
Did they fill their biggest needs at the deadline in 2023 and 2025? How about the last three off-seasons? How come they have a payroll 30 million each season under what they spent before the 2022 breakup? They already said the payroll will be the same again.
There are moves and then there are moves. Teams like Cleveland and Milwaukee understand this at their price range and how to build a roster. Teams have fired GMs the last three years for this kind of result.
It is a familiar story by now and it is obvious there is no plan other than bargain basement shopping and other teams discarded players/prospects. Singer was a solid acquisition but even a squirrel finds a nut once in a while. The other guys either missed a lot of time with injury or were part time players.
If you call yourself a fan, demand better. If you don’t, nothing will ever change.
I actually hope they make me eat crow for once and make some good moves. But I sincerely doubt it.
The Reds spend the same as Milwaukee. I mean the Reds went with the youth movement so you have to stick with it. Stewart can basically play only 1st base. Do you acquire a 1st baseman and send Stewart back to the minors? McLain had a bad year last year but do you trade him or do you hope he bounces back? Their pitching is fine with an added veteran to the bullpen. Santillan should be the closer. They need a LF or 1st baseman and move Steer to LF. Francona needs to run more next year. They had 100 less stolen bases than the previous 2 years and that cost a lot of runs. The Reds will acquire a bat but it may not be Schwarber. If he’s looking at a 4 or 5 year deal, I’m not sure the Reds should sink 125-150 million dollars into a guy that would be 37 at the end. Once he loses his power, he’s useless. Doesn’t hit for average and doesn’t play defense. I don’t see any moves that the Reds need to make other than a power hitter and a bullpen piece. You can’t give up on Stewart, Marte and McLain so soon
The problem is you have to compete w the teams who acquire Soto and Ohtani. The Reds will never be competitive w Nick Krall at the helm, he is in way over his skis. Limited budget and he is paying Candelario 15 mill to not play third base. He is paying Hayes 8 million to play third base. Add that up and the Reds are paying 23 million for third baseman and will be repaid with a .220 batting average and less than 10 homers. Thats classic Krall, all his moves work out similarly. Hearing him wxain how they let EDC play through a torn quad muscle is also a classic.
Yes, F Nitty the Reds have to compete with teams that have the resources to sign players like Soto and Ohtani. Yet they don’t have the ability to sign such players, much like 80% of the league. So you can scrap your team loyalties and become a LAD, NYY, etc fan or appreciate what a tough road that small market teams have to travel.
MLB is very shortsighted in allowing this lack of competitive balance to persist. The NFL is thriving because every year there is a multitude of teams that are in the playoff chase and because non-major market teams can build very successful franchises. This lack of any semblance of parity is a major reason why the average baseball fan is much older than those of other sports.
I had no interest watching the World Series when the LA Dodgers literally went out and bought a championship
Every team misses on players. Candelario was a miss but there were many fans that wanted the Reds to get Luis Robert or Santander. He didn’t. That’s what happens when you don’t have a ton of money to spend and you’re trying to fill multiple holes. You gotta hope for a bounce back season. People talk about how bad the Reds have been. Granted no championships, but few small dollar teams have. The Reds have finished above .500 in 4 of the last 6 years. People always talk like the Reds should have added a big outfield bat last year but the only 2 guys that changed teams of any significance was Soto and Tucker. Neither were doable. They got their money’s worth from Hays. As for Ke’bryann Hayes, he’s never hit .220 so I don’t know where you came up with that. His defense can win as many games as someone’s offense.
Franklin, never? The Reds did compete with the Mets and Soto,took 4 out of six and made the playoffs. Why? Better pitching. Great moves at the deadline that helped defense, starting pitching, bullpen and offense. Not Ohtani size moves, but key moves. They have a great nucleus, let’s keep ’em healthy and see the improvement this year. What move is are you suggesting they make (with their budget)? If Krall is so bad, tell him and us what needs to be done?
This one, how do you get up every morning? The negativity makes it tough I’m sure. You continue to criticize Krall, what moves should he make? Don’t you think they would have signed Ohtani if it were possible (or made an effort to do so)? The Ray’s showed the way–strong pitching, develop some younger bats and augment with some affordable options.
That’s my beef with posters constantly on this site with hateful remarks toward front office. Step up with constructive ideas for moves. And don’t just say we need a power bat. Or a closer. State who the Reds should target and how to do so.
Negative? Nope, in fact I am pretty positive overall. But this is a typical response from folks who can’t stand being hit in the face with reality. Personally, I’d rather not fool myself, but I suppose you never actually played the game.
Apparently you are one of the idol worshippers that have an issue when the management and front office of the team is questioned. I’m sure they will like to continue getting your money and not producing results ad nauseam. I personally would like ownership to fulfill their promise of a perennial contender when they bought the club instead of “where are you gonna go?” when their efforts are questioned but you seem to think that’s just me.
The so-called experts have even criticized their deadline and off-season efforts, and spending the last few years, but no, it’s just me, Franklin, Bob’s cat and a few others on the site that are negative.
Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and let’s hope these kids can get to the postseason again even if they don’t get help from the front office.
I should point out that in your first paragraph you deny being negative. Third paragraph you admit your negativity. Talk, talk,talk.
This one, Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone here.
If the kids are healthy we will compete this year. I am happy to hear criticism on Krall and management. But let’s focus on what can be done with the budget we have. Our strength is young talent and pitching. What bullpen, bat, and depth can we add within budget? I think We are close.
Spiers moves are maybe small., but never the less productive. Off the 40 man but still recovering with the team is just how things are done in baseball these days. BTW, Redshad a winning season and made the playoffs. They also have recuced the team ERA 4 years running.