Reds release Shoujo Akiyama; You are expected to choose Drury, Garcia, Farmer

The Reds announced this afternoon that they have released the defensive player Shoujo Akiyama. Akiyama looked likely to be released when the club informed him over the weekend that he would not break camp on the active roster, as his contract gave him the right to turn down any minor league assignments.

This move closes the book on a disappointing period in Cincinnati. Akiyama signed a three-year deal worth $21 million during the 2019-20 season. The transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB during the 2020 season was undoubtedly difficult, as challenges typical of the new environment were exacerbated by the short schedule and pandemic protocols. However, the Reds certainly expected better from the .224/.320/.274 streak that Akiyama scored in 366 board appearances over the past two years.

With $8 million due in 2022 under the terms of this contract, Akiyama is a lock to clear waiver waiver. Cincinnati will remain on the hook for that money, minus the league’s minimum salary if the 33-year-old can catch up to another MLB team as a free agent. From the Reds’ perspective, the release was about reallocating Akiyama’s place in the active and 40-man rosters.

The Reds don’t have to make an official call on the opening day roster until Thursday, but C. Trent Rosecrans of Athletic Tweets The club plans to select three non-invited invitees to the big league club. Player / Defender Brandon Drurycatcher Aramis Garcia and loyal Back Farmer They are expected to break the camp.

This will be the eighth consecutive season with some MLB time for the Drury. The right-handed assist driver had two decent seasons early in his career with the Diamondbacks but has lost 90 appearances just once in the past four years. His last long career in the Grand Slams – 120 games with the 2019 Blue Jays – resulted in just .218/.262/.380 slashes, but Drury did well on the bench capacity with the Mets last year.

Garcia is expected to join the big league club as a backup Tyler Stevenson. The 29-year-old booster has been a fit for the Giants and the A in recent years. Over parts of three major league seasons, he’d hit .218/.256/.373. García has a more impressive .268/.333/.448 font in Triple-A. Looks like he beat an uninvited fellow on the list Andrew Knapp for backup capture task. Rosecrans Tweets Knapp was released after being told he would not break camp.

Meanwhile, Farmer participated in parts of eight major league seasons. He has spent his entire career with the Tigers but is now on MLB’s second team row. The right-hander posted a sub 4.00 ERA in both 2019-20, but is coming off a tough campaign in 2021. In 35 1/3 innings, Farmer clocked a 6.37 ERA with a high walking rate of 12.3%. It will add some comfortable multi-stroke depth to captain David Bell, though, hoping to rediscover his form in 2019-20.

Akiyama’s release shows one place on the 40-man list, and the other two appear to have come from positions on the injured list. True Justin Dunn Outside “months“With a shoulder problem and the numbers to end in the 60-day casualty list. (Including .) Bell told reporters Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Inquirer) this player Max Schrock It will be placed on the IL 60 as well. The 27-year-old suffers from a strain in his left calf.

This will clear the way for the opening day roster, but the Reds character requires another 40-player spot on the roster by the middle of next week. as MLB.com’s Jesse Borek He writes, Cincinnati is expected to promote to the best potential clients Nick Ludlow To make his major league debut when the team first needs a fifth start on April 13. The team has yet to make an official announcement, but Ludlow is not expected to be named to a minor league. Assuming that plan pays off, the Reds will have to officially select Southpaw for their Major League roster.