Cincinnati Reds lose bench player prospects in roster realignment

The Cincinnati Reds lost back-up infielder Zach Vincej and back-up catcher Chad Wallach during a spate of roster moves.

The Cincinnati Reds tried to sneak four players off of their forty man roster, but it cost them.  The Reds wanted to get their forty man ready for free agency, the Rule 5 Draft and the required elevation of several minor leaguers.  With that in mind they optioned catcher Chad Wallach, pitcher Deck McGuire, outfielder Patrick Kivlehan, and infielder Zach Vincej to Louisville.

Kivlehan made it through waivers without an issue.  He is a pure hitter with decent athleticism.  His inconsistent balance of power and contact helped him avoid getting claimed.

McGuire is a free agent after declining the assignment.  He made his MLB debut for the Reds in 2017.  He looks like a pitcher with some possibilities, but not with a ceiling as high as other prospects.

Vincej was an elite defensive shortstop in the minors for the Reds.  He looked a bit overmatched offensively when he made his debut with the big league club in 2017.  Now he is part of the Seattle Mariners organization.

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Wallach is the one that hurts the most.  He is an elite OBP talent and can play multiple positions.  When the Reds traded Mat Latos, Wallach was the headline piece that the Reds received.

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The Cincinnati Reds are preparing for a busy off-season of adding depth to a thin roster.

The Reds have lowered the number of players on their forty man roster all the way down to 33.  They have seven openings.  Only two, max, can be used for Rule 5 players.  That means the Reds project five minor leaguers being added to the forty man in the next month.

The only prospect that the Reds may add this off-season is Shed Long.  Drafted as a second baseman in 2013.  He spent the second half of 2017 in Double-A.

Other than that none of the top thirty prospects are likely to join the forty man roster.  That means the Reds have at least four spots for major league free agents and waiver wire acquisitions.  The Reds can clear spots later, but this time of year it is best to have a spot or two open.

Next: Where is Billy Hamilton headed?

The Reds lost some good talent when they tried to send down players to the minors.  Now they have space to add more players into the fold.  In the end rarely do players at the end of the forty man roster make much of a difference for a 94 lost team.