Will Art Warren, who will miss all of the 2023 season, survive the Reds roster squeeze?

In baseball, 40-man roster spots are extremely valuable. Art Warren is about to find out just how valuable his spot on the Cincinnati Reds roster really is.

It is being reported by Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer (subscription required) that Warren will miss all of the 2023 season after undergoing elbow surgery just a few weeks ago.

It was originally thought that Warren could return in 2023. Warren suffered some UCL damage, but was able to avoid Tommy John surgery. Still, it appears as though the right-hander will miss all of next season. Will Warren survive the incoming roster crunch and remain with the team next season?

Will Art Warren survive the Reds roster squeeze?

Art Warren did not pitch well in 2022, but after seeing that the 29-year-old required surgery to repair a problem with his right elbow, perhaps we now know why his struggles were so pronounced. Warren was 2-3 with a 6.50 ERA in 39 appearances out of the Cincinnati Reds bullpen. The question now becomes, how valuable is Warren's roster spot heading into next season?

Tejay Antone was in a similar position last year. The right-hander suffered a torn UCL and required Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career. Antone maintained his spot on the offseason roster and was placed on the 60-day IL this past March. Cincinnati will need to reinstate Antone in the coming weeks in order to keep him on the 40-man roster during the offseason.

This is the same path that Art Warren is to follow if the Reds intend to keep him on the roster heading into the 2024 season. If not, Warren could be non-tendered in the coming weeks.

So much depends on wha other decisions the Reds plan to make in terms of their bullpen. Are Derek Law and Daniel Duarte going to be retained? If so, then Art Warren may lose his spot. If pitchers like Ian Gibaut and Buck Farmer do not fit into the Reds' long-term plans, then the possibility exists for Warren to remain with the team moving forward.

The Cincinnati Reds also have several prospects who will need to be added to the team's 40-man roster over the next several weeks. Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, and others will need to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. Warren is in a very precarious position with roster decisions pending.