Cincinnati Reds claim Jake Buchanan and hope he is the answer to their woes

With yet another injury to the starting pitching, the Cincinnati Reds claimed Jake Buchanan from the Chicago Cubs.

The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Amir Garrett on the DL and needed another pitcher.  There was obviously something wrong with Garrett.  He was the Reds best starting pitcher before coming back from Louisville and then was their worst.  Until that point he appeared to be learning start to start.

Many people are calling for the next man up from the minors.  Currently, on the major league roster Homer Bailey, Anthony Desclafani, Brandon Finnegan, Amir Garrett, and Nick Travieso are all on the DL.  Unfortunately, at Triple A the next two men up, Rookie Davis and Sal Romano, are also on the DL.

Looking at that list of the names, it is startling to realize that the Reds’ anticipated rotation prior to the signing of Scott Feldman is completely on the major league DL.  Yes, Travieso was going to face competition, but his main competition, Davis and Romano, is also on the DL.  No other team in baseball has injuries like this.

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The combination of Garrett going on the DL and Finnegan moving over to the 60-day meant the Reds had to come up with another solution.  When the Cubs designated Jake Buchanan for assignment to make room for Zac Rosscup on the forty man roster, the Reds found their answer.  Rosscup only pitched 2/3 of an inning in one game before they returned him to Triple A.

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The Cincinnati Reds hope that Jake Buchanan is the answer to their pitching woes for the next month or so.

Buchanan was drafted by the Houston Astros in 8th round of the 2010 draft out of North Carolina State University.  He made his MLB debut with them in 2014, pitching in 17 games including two starts.  Last year, Buchanan pitched in a pair of games for the Cubs, including one start.

Over the course of eight minor league seasons, Buchanan has pitched in 178 games, starting 137.  He is a perfectly average pitcher with a 52-52 record.

In fact, the most spectacular thing about him may be that in half of his seasons he has eclipsed 140 innings pitched.

Buchanan and prospect Jackson Stephens share the long man role for now.  Either one could start in a pinch or leave for Louisville never to return.  Buchanan, however, will likely be given a longer leash in Cincinnati.

Next: The minor league staffs are doing mostly alright.

Buchanan could enter the rotation at any time.  He has the history and experience for the Reds to give him that chance.  In any case he is filling the role of swingman that the Reds planned for Scott Feldman before the plans all fell apart.