Cincinnati Reds roster update: Aristides Aquino among those non-tendered

The Cincinnati Reds made a flurry of moves yesterday. The biggest was no doubt the decision to let Billy Hamilton go, but some other players were non-tendered as well.

The Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster is a little lighter this morning. Everyone in Reds Country knows about Cincinnati’s decision to non-tender Billy Hamilton, but the Reds made several other moves last night as well.

When a club “non-tenders” a player, that team essentially declines to offer a contract to the player, making him a free agent. In the case of Billy Hamilton, it appears that decision was made in large part due to his arbitration figure being greater than his on-field value. Hamilton was not the only Reds player to not have his services renewed for next season.

Aristides Aquino, Juan Graterol, and the recently acquired Jordan Patterson were all non-tendered yesterday. Aquino was the Reds No. 16 prospect according to Reds Pipeline and is perhaps the most surprising of the players non-tendered yesterday not named Billy Hamilton.

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Aquino is a very raw prospect who’s been part of the Reds organization since 2011. He’s yet to advance beyond Double-A in the minors, but was given an opportunity, albeit brief (one plate appearance), with the big league club during the September call-ups last season.

Graterol was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels in October and Patterson was just claimed the other day from the New York Mets who had just claimed him earlier this week from the Colorado Rockies. Look for the Cincinnati Reds to offer all three players a chance to rejoin the club on Minor League deals.

The Reds roster now sits at 36. That seems like a perfect number to add some pitching help, don’t you think? Look for the Reds to keep a watchful eye on the moves other clubs made at the non-tender deadline in an effort to find a player or two that may fit their need.

With Hamilton, Patterson, and Aquino now removed from the Cincinnati 40-man roster, the Reds appear a little light in the outfield. Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin, Scott Schebler, and José Siri are the only outfielders on the 40-man roster. Winker, while expected to be back for Spring Training, is recovering from shoulder surgery and Siri spent last year split between Advanced-A and Double-A and is still likely a year away from the Majors.

Look for more roster moves in the coming days. Could it be a blockbuster trade or a free agent signing, who knows? One thing we found out yesterday is that Anthony DeSclafani, Curt Casali, Michael Lorenzen, José Peraza, and Scooter Gennett were all tendered deals and will be part of the Cincinnati Reds next season.