The Reds signed utilityman Garrett Hampson, right-hander Josh Staumont, and left-hander Brandon Leibrandt to minor league deals in December, as per each player’s official MLB.com profile page. Hampson’s deal was also announced today on the Reds’ official X feed, with the added detail that Hampson has been invited to the club’s big league Spring Training camp.
This is Hampson’s second go-around in Cincinnati, after appearing in nine games for the team in 2025. Hampson began the season on a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks and made the Opening Day roster, but was then released in May. Cincinnati inked Hampson to a MLB deal a few days later but designated the utilityman near the end of June, with the Cardinals then claiming Hampson away on waivers. Hampson has been a free agent since he was DFA’ed again and then released by St. Louis in September.
Over 62 games and 91 plate appearances spread out over his three teams, Hampson hit just .143/.250/.169. It was a tough showing even for a player who carried a modest .240/.301/.362 career slash line into the 2025 season, though Hampson’s versatility has been far more important than his bat in carving out an eight-year MLB career. Hampson has played at least eight games at every position on the diamond besides catcher, with the bulk of his coming as a second baseman and center fielder. Even over just those nine previous games with the Reds, Hampson appeared at second base, third base, shortstop, and center field.
Cincinnati already has a number of multi-position players on the roster, so Hampson may have a tricky time winning a spot on the Reds’ roster. Hampson is also out of minor league options, while Staumont has one option year remaining and Leibrandt has two.
Staumont is back for what is technically his second season with the Reds, though a preseason injury kept Staumont from getting any game action in either the majors or minors. Staumont had pitched in each of the previous six big league seasons, posting a 3.97 ERA over 192 2/3 innings with the Royals and Twins. Once a key leverage reliever and potential future closer for Kansas City, Staumont’s production started to drop off in 2022 as injuries impacted his career, culminating in a thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in 2023.
After averaging 98 mph on his fastball in 2020, Staumont’s velo dropped to 94.3mph by the 2024 season, and his strikeout numbers also sharply dropped off. Control had been an issue for Staumont even in his best years, so it is anyone’s guess as to how he’ll now look entering his age-32 season and after a full year away from pitching. The Reds already have first-hand knowledge of Staumont’s health situation, however, and a minors deals represents no risk for the team in bringing Staumont to camp and seeing what can still contribute.
Leibrandt is yet another former Red, as he posted a 9.95 ERA over 6 1/3 innings (two appearances) for the team in 2024. This brief stint and five games (nine IP) with the Marlins in 2020 represent Leibrandt’s entire MLB resume, and the rest of his career has seen the southpaw pitch in the minors, with independent league teams, and with the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s CTBC Brothers in 2025.
Leibrandt had good results over approximately half a season in the CPBL, posting a 1.94 ERA and 5.37% walk rate over 83 1/3 innings with the Brothers, albeit with a 16.45% strikeout rate. This was enough to get Cincinnati’s attention for another contract, and Leibrandt figures to act as Triple-A rotation depth.
My Chinese uncle recently found a red balloon in the park.
This isn’t dumpster diving. This is like stepping in dog S&!!!$
Oh my… Could any of these players start at Dayton?, let alone help the Reds?
Staumont was a good flyer last year before he got hurt. Worth giving him a shot at it again this year.
They also signed Pierce Johnson
Pierce Johnson’s gotta pitch to Alex Bregman now
Sounds painful
they didn’t get Stuart Fairchild though…Cleveland did. I am just helping you all keep this in perspective.
A reminder to certain Reds fans (especially to you, “This one belongs to the Reds”):
Bob Castellini, the Reds owner, is the problem, not the Dodgers, Yankees or any other big-market team.
I completely disagree. Big market teams are a huge problem for baseball. How are the NY Jets and Giants doing with a salary cap because they can’t buy a championship? Oh right, laughing stock of the NFL. How about the Knicks? Good the past 2 years but what about the past 25? Baseball is flawed and you only deny it because you are on the right side of the problem. Deny all you want, it ain’t fair.
Wait I forgot the Rangers. They are really good too. Funny how the only consistent winner in NY doesn’t have spending rules. And how do you think Yankee ownership has more money to spend? Because their owners are better or they rake in revenue far above other teams? Huge problem bro and you look silly for denying it.
Lol mad and depressing Reds fans won’t change the fact that Bob Castellini can get away with letting your team stagnate and go nowhere, then.
I hope the Reds never win anything. The less interested Reds fans, the less whining.
When virtually every NFL team finishes with a record between .400 and .600 then you can come back and say that MLB is flawed in comparison.
Let’s hope they don’t need any of these guys …and better ones are forthcoming.
Exactly, as long as these guys are just AAA filler this is a great big nothing burger. If they’re getting called up then that is the time to have a negative reaction to this.
They are still 9 million below last year’s payroll they claim to want to stay at with lots of holes to fill. Hopefully they will still have additions to make.
Candelario is still on payroll let’s not forget. Highest paid player on the team. What a screw up that was. Probably the reason Kralls not allowed to sign hitters anymore
There projected oDay payroll is about the same. They’ll likely sit on some, as they do every year, to make mid season acquisitions.
Hampson, jack of all positions but master of none. Automatic out at the plate.
Defense? Meh. But teams keep giving him chances so good for him.
Reds loading up on low-risk depth. None are sexy, but all could pay off if healthy.