Reds quietly claim two pitchers off waivers after Giants and Nationals move on

The Cincinnati Reds added a pair of pitchers to the 40-man roster on Monday after scooping up Paxton Schultz (Washington Nationals) and Duncan Davitt (San Francisco Giants). The Reds' 40-man roster is now at 37.

Schultz is the more accomplished of the two hurlers, with 40 Major League appearances under his belt. He made his big-league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 and logged over 30 innings for the Nats last season.

Davitt made his big-league debut this past season. He began the year with the Chicago White Sox, but finished his 2026 campaign in the Bay Area. In total, appeared in just six games, and allowed seven earned runs over eight innings of work.

Neither player was an elite prospect earlier in their career, but both are pre-arbtration eligible and have minor league options remaining. The Reds need to add a bevy of arm to the roster this season, and are simply filling out the roster with these two additions.

One can never know whether or not you've found a diamond in the rough. Schultz has a four-pitch mix, but relies heavily on his four-seamer, cutter, and changeup. He'll also mix in a slider against right-handed batters.

Davitt gets the most out of his 6-foot-3 frame, with his extension ranking among the 93rd percentile in all of baseball. It helps his mid-90s fastball play up a little higher, and he'll go sweeper-heavy when facing right-handed batters.

Reds add two more pitchers while still searching for Derek Johnson's replacement

While taking a flier on the likes of Schultz and Davitt is something that almost every organization, the Reds are still in the market for someone to coach them. Cincinnati relieved Derek Johnson of his duties after the 2026 season ended, but have yet to name a replacement.

With the World Series now in the rearview mirror and free agency in full swing, it would behoove the Reds to find Johnson's successors — both the pitching coach and director of pitching — so the organization's focus moving forward matches their coach's philosophy.

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