Cincinnati Reds begin the tough process of resetting roster for 2018

The Cincinnati Reds outrighted four pitchers to the minor leagues in the hopes of storing them for next spring.

The Cincinnati Reds outrights Alejandro Chacin, Asher Wojciechowski, Luke Farrell, and Nick Travieso.  The Chicago Cubs claimed Farrell.  The other three pitchers made it through waivers.

Chacin had an ugly 2017 season in Cincinnati.  He made six relief appearances with an ERA of 10.50.  Over six innings, Chacin allowed seven runs, including two home runs.

Wojciechowski is the definition of a replacement player.  He did well as a reliever, but was barely passable as a starter for the Reds.  He did strike out 64 in 62 ⅓ innings.

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Farrell made history this season as the only pitcher in MLB history to face a team managed by his father.  Farrell projected as a starter, but made nine relief appearances for the Reds.  He only allowed three earned runs in 10 ⅓ innings of work for an ERA of 2.61.

Travieso didn’t pitch in a single game this year.  He has had some minor injuries in the past, but nothing like this season.  In five minor league seasons Travieso made 93 appearances, all starts, with an ERA of 3.54 covering 455 ⅔ innings pitched.

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The Cincinnati Reds have other moves to make in order to get ready for the Rule 5 Draft and other deadlines.

The Reds currently have four empty roster spots.  Two of those spots are already spoken for before the off-season starts.  Anthony DeSclafani and Brandon Finnegan both have to transition from the 60-day DL to the active roster.

That just leaves the two roster spots for the Rule 5.  

Of course, if Zack Cozart becomes a free agent, it will add another roster spot.  Don’t count on that, as the Reds want to re-sign Cozart before he can negotiate with other teams even though they test drove the defense without him.

This roster spot shortage is why the Reds won’t re-sign Scott Feldman until after the first of the year.  All signs point to him coming back on another one year deal.  The Reds, however, want to wait until they have all of the players in place before adding Feldman to the forty man roster.

Next: Two Reds are playing in the World Series

They may promote minor leaguers to the forty man roster to protect them from the Rule 5, but at this point the roster is close to set.  The Reds have a strong set of core players.  Heading into 2018 being on the forty man roster for the Reds finally means something again.