The Reds have made five more roster axed out today following the recent issues within the Teammates while two join Texas Rangers
The Cincinnati Reds have announced five more roster cuts today. Right-handed pitcher and one of the club’s top prospects, Connor Phillips has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Outfielder Bubba Thompson was also optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Outfielder Conner Capel, and infielders Erik Gonzalez and Mark Mathias were all reassigned to minor league camp. Being optioned means a player is on the 40-man roster, while being reassigned means the player was a non-roster invitee to big league camp and was on a minor league contract.
For Connor Phillips it probably feels like a punch in the gut. The team’s #4 rated prospect, Phillips has pitched in three games this spring. The right-handed starter has thrown 6.0 innings, allowed no runs, just three hits, walked three batters, and he’s struck out five. While the Reds have plenty of starting pitching depth at this point in the year, and Phillips was almost assuredly on the outside looking in as far as that competition goes, he did all he could to keep fighting for that job. The 22-year-old could be the first starting pitcher called up from the minors if and when the team needs someone to step in, but he’ll have to head to Triple-A and keep getting the job done there for now.
Something similar can be said for Bubba Thompson. He was probably down the depth chart in the outfield enough that he would have to force his way onto the big league roster. But the 25-year-old was having a good spring. He had gone 6-17 with two doubles and a steal while posting a line of .353/.421/.471 in his 11 games played.
Outfielder Conner Capel had shown off a little pop, with half of his hits being for extra bases. But he also only had four hits in his 17 at-bats. He didn’t draw a walk and had seven strikeouts while hitting .235/.235/.471 in his 11 games played.
Erik Gonzalez walked twice in his seven games played. But he also had gone hitless, going 0-12 with three strikeouts. Mark Mathias had even less playing time, but he also went hitless. He played in just two games, but went 0-5 with a walk and a strikeout.
With these moves the Reds are now down to 39 players in big league camp.
The Texas Rangers made an intriguing pickup over the weekend after the Cincinnati Reds decided to part ways with their former top prospect Jose Barrero. The Rangers claimed Barrero off waivers and added him to their 40-man roster.
The Reds had seen enough of Barrero to determine that he was no longer a fit on their team. Reds manager David Bell said that the shortstop was not going to break camp with Cincinnati, but was hopeful after waiving the 25-year-old, that he’d remain with the organization. The Rangers made sure that wasn’t going to happen.
