Several notable Reds minor leaguers elect free agency
With free agency underway, several minor league players will be attempting to find their way onto a major league roster. For the Cincinnati Reds, this means a handful of talented young players may no return in 2023.
With Cincinnati fully focused on rebuilding their roster from the inside out, it shouldn't come as a surprise that so many young players will be looking elsewhere after not receiving their chance while part of the Reds organization in 2022.
There are a lot of minor league players who are electing to enter free agency, and among them are a handful of players who made an appearance with the Reds last season. While Cincinnati can certainly choose to re-sign those players, that may not be in the cards.
Chuckie Robinson among Reds' minor leaguers who'll enter free agency.
Count catcher Chuckie Robinson among those within the Cincinnati Reds minor league system who'll be electing free agency this offseason. After making his major league debut in 2022, Robinson was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville shortly after the season. It would not be surprising, however, to see Robinson return to the Reds on a minor league deal this winter.
Brandon Bailey, who underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career while part of the Reds roster, has elected free agency as well. Much like Robinson, the Reds may choose to work out a new deal wih Bailey during the offseaon.
Other notable minor leaguers who elected to enter the free agent market are right-handed pitchers Raynel Espinal and Nick Hanson, third baseman Christian Santana, and outfielder Ronnie Dawson.
None of these names are overly surprising. The Cincinnati Reds have no reason to hang on to any career-minor league players. This franchise is undergoing massive changes throughout the organization, and hanging onto a handful of minor leaguers is not in the team's best interest moving forward.