Should the Cincinnati Reds make a run at Tyler Thornburg?

The Boston Red Sox recently released pitcher Tyler Thornburg. Should the Cincinnati Reds make a run at right-handed reliever?

Yesterday, the Boston Red Sox released right-handed reliever Tyler Thornburg. The Cincinnati Reds have had wave of injuries hit their bullpen of late and just released Zach Duke. Should the Reds take a flyer on the former Milwaukee Brewers’ setup man?

To say that the 30-year-old pitcher has had a tumultuous time since joining the Red Sox would be an understatement. Thornburg was traded from Milwaukee to Boston in a deal that involved Travis Shaw and Mauricio Dubon. Thornburg missed his first season with his new team following surgery after being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.

This season with the Red Sox has at least seen Thornburg on the field, though fans in Boston might have wished he’d stayed away. In 16 games, Thornburg has a 7.71 ERA and a 1.661 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks. Thornburg is expected to be out of action until the latter part of this month due to a hip impingement.

So why in the world, you may ask, should the Cincinnati Reds offer a contract to an injured pitcher who’s best days were two years ago? Because two years ago, while pitching in Milwaukee under the tutelage of current Reds’ pitching coach Derek Johnson, Thornburg had his best major league season.

Reds fans have already seen Johnson’s wizardry on full display as the likes of Robert Stephenson and Amir Garrett have seen marked improvement. Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo made it to this year’s All-Star Game under the watchful eye of Johnson as well.

There’s no denying an uptick in talent has helped the Reds pitching staff, but Johnson deserves a lot of credit as well. Last season, the Cincinnati Reds led the league in hits allowed, runs scored, and home runs. This season, the Reds have allowed the fewest hits, runs, and home runs in the the National League. That’s not just talent, that’s coaching as well.

Tyler Thornburg is owed $1.75M this season, but Boston is on the hook for that. Thornburg, given his current standing, is likely to receive nothing more than a minor league deal. That’s a low-risk/ high-reward pickup for a team like the Reds who are notorious thrifty.

If the Cincinnati Reds were to sign Thornburg to a deal and send him to Triple-A Louisville once he returns from injury, at the very least it gives them some insurance for the remainder of the 2019 season in the event that one of their key relievers succumbs to injury. It would also help preserve a minor league option on a player such as Sal Romano or Jackson Stephens.

During his last season in Miwaukee, with Derek Johnson on the Brewers’ staff, Thornburg went 8-5 with a 2.15 ERA in 67 appearances out of the bullpen. Thornburg racked up a career-high 90 strikeouts during 67 innings of work. It’s worth a phone call, right?