The Cincinnati Reds have made several roster moves today. Let’s first look at the promotions.
Right handed pitcher Josh Smith and catcher Kyle Skipworth have been called up to the big leagues. Smith will pitch out of the bullpen, somewhere that he hasn’t spent much time since the 2010 season. You can read what to expect from him at this post from earlier in the day.
The Reds also called up catcher Kyle Skipworth, who was in Double-A Pensacola. Skipworth has played in four big league games, all in 2013 with the Marlins. He is 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout in his big league career. The 25-year-old is a career .215/.279/.383 hitter in the minor leagues with about as aggressive of an approach as you can imagine, walking just 163 times with 719 strikeouts. He’s got big time power when he can make good contact. Don’t expect him to get much playing time.
Those two moves were made because the Reds sent Raisel Iglesias to the minor leagues, option him to Triple-A where it would seem he will join the rotation and Devin Mesoraco is still in Cincinnati as he awaits and MRI on his hip. Neither of those are good things. Iglesias being sent to Triple-A to remain as a starter instead of working out of the big league bullpen isn’t the worst plan in the world, but it still confuses me how 86-89 MPH fastballer Jason Marquis is staying in the rotation over a guy like Iglesias. Mesoraco being injured is a big concern. He’s still on the roster, so maybe it’s nothing serious, but any time you are getting an MRI there is a cause for concern.
To make room on the roster for Skipworth, while also keeping Mesoraco activated, the team sent Chris Dominguez to Louisville. The question that immediately went through my mind, then to twitter, was why wasn’t Tucker Barnhart recalled instead of having to create a 40-man roster spot for Kyle Skipworth? Apparently it is the dreaded “10-day” option rule, and while Barnhart was optioned on March 23rd, the clock doesn’t actually begin until the start of the season. So without a DL trip, he’s not eligible to come up.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Skipworth the team designated left handed reliever Ryan Dennick for assignment. Dennick was in Louisville to begin the 2015 season.