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
Does he have good numbers against him? (Bregman)
Sounds painful
they didn’t get Stuart Fairchild though…Cleveland did. I am just helping you all keep this in perspective.
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.
I feel badly for Reds fans. I didn’t think it was possible to outdo the Pirates front office offseason dealings of the past five years ( until this year, of course) but somehow the Reds are going for the crown.
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.
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.
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.
Per Forbes, the Reds are one of the most Net Profitable teams…
Reds loading up on low-risk depth. None are sexy, but all could pay off if healthy.
We always have said that here in Pittsburgh. It only makes the trade deadline period the festive time it’s been here every year
Liebrandt’s dad, Charlie, was quite a good pitcher who started his career with the Reds.
Unfortunately, Brandon is nowhere near Charlie.
Made his debut with the Reds 47 years ago. I remember watching him in the 1985 and 1991 World Series.
I’m a Royals fan and I agree with the first guy lol. The owners collude to bring down salaries and the Dodgers just don’t go along with it and it pisses the other owners off. They’re all rich and can spend what they want regardless of the market. The Dodgers just want to win more and are better at fielding the best franchise right now
The Reds sure love guys who play multiple positions and then tell us they are building around defense. When your second basemen plays left field and your centerfielder also plays third, you dont have a second basemen or a centerfielder.
Of course he is part of the problem. That still does not mean those teams cannot be part of the problem as well. They could care less if the sport turned into A European soccer league where only. With the exception of maybe the EPL. 2-3 teams have a chance to win at all. I can’t stand the Reds ownership set up by a committee of faceless minority owners who don’t contribute or are asked to. The owners of the A’s. Pirates and Marlins though are tons worse.