The Cincinnati Reds placed right handed pitcher Layne Somsen on waivers, clearing a spot for Daniel Wright on the 40-man roster, and the New York Yankees stepped in and claimed Somsen.
The Cincinnati Reds originally selected Layne Somsen in the 22nd round of the 2013 draft out of South Dakota State University. He was already 24-years-old at the time he was drafted and spent the entire first season pitching for the Billings Mustangs that year. He posted a 1.66 ERA in 43.1 innings out of the Billings bullpen to go along with 15 walks and 40 strikeouts.
The next season he was assigned to Dayton and dominated for the Dragons in 11 games, posting a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings with just four walks and 26 strikeouts. That was good enough to get him promoted to the hitter friendly California League where he pitched in the Bakersfield bullpen. In 21 games there he posted a 3.86 ERA with 16 walks and 38 strikeouts in 39.2 innings.
In 2015 he was pushed up once again, beginning the season with Pensacola where he once again pitched very well, posting a 2.76 ERA in 32.2 innings with 16 walks and 31 strikeouts. That got him a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Louisville where he was almost identically good, statistically, posting a 2.73 ERA in 29.2 innings with 14 walks and 29 strikeouts. After the season the Reds sent Somsen to the Arizona Fall League where he again showed success, posting a 3.38 ERA with four walks and 13 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
After a strong spring training with the big league club, the Reds sent the right hander to Triple-A to begin the season. In 10 games and 19.0 innings he would post a 1.89 ERA with seven walks and 19 strikeouts. That led to him being called up to the big leagues where he struggled in two games, allowing five runs in 2.1 innings with three walks and two strikeouts.
The team reportedly did not designate Somsen for assignment, but placed him directly on waivers according to Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Apparently Somsen was not DFA’d. Just put on waivers and claimed. Perhaps the Reds thought they could sneak him through.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZachENQ) May 24, 2016
What the exact reasoning for this is, I don’t really know. I’m sure there’s some procedural reason for it, so if you’ve got a better grasp on why they would have gone this route, feel free to share.