Reds quietly added pitching help and one move comes with an ironic twist

With the MLB trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the Cincinnati Reds are in need of some added depth. This is especially true of the pitching staff with Hunter Greene now likely done for the season after being placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow soreness.

The Reds made a pair of roster additions on Thursday. Cincinnati claimed right-handed pitcher Ron Marinaccio off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and also picked up Chase Solesky after he was let go by the Tampa Bay Rays. Solesky was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

In order to make enough room on the 40-man roster, the club shifted Blake Dunn to the 60-day IL. The Reds outfielder underwent elbow surgery earlier this week and will miss the remainder of the season.

Interestingly enough, there's a bit of an ironic twist to this latest flurry of roster moves. Marinaccio was DFA'd earlier this week after the Pirates acquired former Reds pitcher Luke Weaver from the New York Mets. In a bout of double irony, Pittsburgh shipped former Cincinnati prospect Sammy Stafura to New York to complete the deal.

Reds pick up two arms amid flurry of post-trade deadline moves

Stafura was drafted by the Reds back in 2023, but was traded to the Pirates at last year's deadline as part of the return for Gold Glove Award-winner Ke'Bryan Hayes. That trade appears to have aged rather poorly, especially after seeing Stafura turn into one of the hottest hitters in the minor leagues.

In 61 games in the minors this season, the former second-round pick is hitting .276/.367/.591 with 20 home runs, 54 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and a 133 wRC+. He's played both shortstop and second base this season.

Weaver spent some time with the Reds organization as well. The right-hander signed with the Reds in 2023, but was let go midway through the season. He eventually latched on with the New York Yankees, and became an effective reliever in the Bronx. Weaver inked a two-year deal with the Mets this past winter, and will now be operating out of the Bucs' bullpen through 2027.

As for the two additions the Reds received, Marinaccio pitched for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, has appeared in 37 games this season and owns a 4.99 ERA and 5.41 FIP. Solesky is a 28-year-old right-hander who has just three innings of Major League experience under his belt. He's been a starter throughout most of his career, and could be an innings-eater for the Reds later this season.

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