Reds appropriately designate reliever Brad Brach for assignment

The Cincinnati Reds activated shortstop Kyle Farmer from the paternity list on Monday and designated right-handed reliever Brad Brach for assignment. While Cincinnati could have decided to move on from infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera, letting Brach go was the correct move for now.

Brach was a key member of the Reds relief corps for a stretch earlier this season, but the recent additions of Luis Cessa, Justin Wilson, and Mychal Givens made the right-hander expendable. His production of late, however, saw Brach’s ERA reach a season-high of 6.30.

Brad Brach’s time with the Reds was up.

Brach made his Cincinnati debut in May, but it was the month of June that saw the reliever earn some high-leverage opportunities. Brach appeared in 12 games that month and owned a 2.38 ERA while striking out 15 batters over 11.1 innings.

Since the calendar flipped to July, however, Brad Brach struggled mightily. The right-hander appeared in 14 games in July and posted a 6.15 ERA. Brach hit the IL in early August and returned to the Reds earlier this month.

However, over his last 18 games, Brach has surrendered 16 earned runs in 13.2 innings pitched. He also walked nine batters while only striking out 11. Brach surrendered four home runs during that stretch, including Jason Heyward’s game-winning blast last week.

The Cincinnati Reds have 18 games remaining in the 2021 season, and cannot afford to let any winnable games slip through their fingers over the next few weeks. Brad Brach was not going to help them win any games, and the front office made the right move letting the right-hander go.

Kyle Farmer will return to the team for tonight’s series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. While Jose Barrero has earned two starts while Farmer was away on paternity leave, the new dad is likely to be in the Cincinnati starting lineup when the Redlegs visit the Steel City this evening.