With Amir Garrett traded to KC, Reiver Sanmartin should join the Reds bullpen

With so many questionable moves made by the Cincinnati Reds, to say the roster is in flux would be a massive understatement. One of the more puzzling transactions was the Reds trade with the Royals that sent left-handed reliever Amir Garrett to Kansas City. In exchange, Cincinnati received fellow southpaw Mike Minor.

Last season, Garrett had the worst season of his career with 0-4 record and a 6.04 ERA. Moreover, AG walked a staggering 13.5% of the batters he faced last season. So, it was no surprise that Reds GM Nick Krall decided it was time for Garrett and the club to part ways.

However, with Garrett now off to the AL Central's most exciting young team, the Reds are left with only one left-handed reliever in the bullpen; Justin Wilson. The former New York Yankee will undoubtedly need a like-handed running mate in 2022 and Reiver Sanmartin looks like the best option.

Reiver Sanmartin is the Reds best option to replace Amir Garrett.

Reiver Sanmartin made two appearances with the Cincinnati Reds last year. The lefty won both contests, albeit against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. Sanmartin accumulated a 1.54 ERA while fanning 11 batters over 11.2 innings of work.

Last season at Triple-A Louisville, Sanmartin went 8-2 with a 3.94 ERA. Over 82.1 innings with the Bats, the left-hander kept bats silenced as he held opponents to a batting average of .253 and a 13.9% swinging-strike percentage. Sanmartin also excelled on keeping the ball on the ground with a 54% ground ball percentage.

Reiver Sanmartin exhibits a good mix of pitches such as a sinker and change-up to go along with his heater that sits in the mid-90s. The left-hander likes to throw a fastball and then change speeds in order to confuse the hitter. Don't be surprised to see Sanmartin in high-leverage situations, as the former Yankees prospect has the stuff to miss bats and keeps the ball in the yard.

Amir Garrett is gone, and if the Cincinnati Reds decide to keep Reiver Sanmartin in the starting rotation, Justin Wilson will be the only lefty in the pen. That doesn't seem like a smart approach, so expect to see Sanmartin make the move to the bullpen.