Cincinnati Reds DFA Veteran Outfielder
The Cincinnati Reds just pulled the trigger on something that probably has half of Cincinnati crying into their Skyline Chili right about now. Jake Fraley, the outfielder who has been bouncing around the “Queen City” for four years, just got the dreaded designation for assignment.
What Actually Happened With the Cincinnati Reds’ Decision?
The Reds basically told Jake Fraley “thanks, but no thanks” on Sunday, shipping him off to make room for some roster shuffling that would make a Vegas dealer jealous. Manager Terry Francona tried to put a nice bow on it, saying they wanted to give Fraley “a chance to play where maybe he thinks he deserves to play.”
The timing couldn’t be more brutal. Fraley had just hyperextended his knee after making an error that let a run score in Saturday’s gut-wrenching 6-5, 11-inning loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Francona swears that neither the error nor the injury had anything to do with the move.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story)
Here’s where things get interesting, and by interesting, I mean depressing if you’re a Fraley fan. The 30-year-old was hitting .232 with 6 home runs and 23 RBI across 67 games this season. Those aren’t exactly MVP numbers, but they’re not “pack your bags” terrible either. It is the kind of mediocre production that usually gets you a nice seat on the bench, not a one-way ticket out of town.
Fraley was actually pretty popular among fans and teammates. There is something genuinely painful about watching a guy who’s been grinding it out for four years with the Cincinnati Reds get shown the door because of roster construction issues.
Tyler Stephenson’s Thumb Ruins Everything
The real villain in this story isn’t Fraley’s batting average or that unfortunate error. It is Tyler Stephenson’s thumb. The catcher reaggravated a left thumb injury during the Pittsburgh series, leaving the Cincinnati Reds scrambling with a short bench. Suddenly, carrying a guy who has been relegated to spot duty becomes a luxury they can’t afford.
Francona admitted they were “a little concerned about playing short, maybe a two-man bench.” So instead of rolling the dice with depth, they decided to cut bait with a guy who’s been nothing if not reliable during his Cincinnati tenure. It is the kind of roster management that makes perfect sense on paper and feels brutal when put into practice.
The Human Side Of Baseball’s Cold Business
This is where Francona showed he’s still got a soul, unlike some of the robots running other MLB clubs. The manager admitted he lost sleep over the decision, saying, “You’re making decisions that alter their life. The day when I stop thinking about it, I will re-retire.”
That’s real talk right there. While fans get caught up in stats and playoff races, these moves have genuine human consequences. Fraley isn’t just a .232 hitter; he is a guy with a family, a mortgage, and four years of memories in Cincinnati. Getting DFA’d isn’t just a career setback. It is a life earthquake.
Cincinnati Reds’ Bigger Picture Problems
Let’s zoom out for a second and talk about what this move really represents. The Cincinnati Reds are the only team this season that hasn’t been swept in a series, which sounds impressive until you realize they just lost the first two games to Milwaukee and are currently watching the Brewers rip off 14 straight wins.
This franchise is stuck in baseball purgatory. Not good enough to compete for a title, but not bad enough to embrace a full rebuild. They are making roster moves based on bench depth concerns while their division rivals are running away with the standings.
The Roster Shuffle That Nobody Asked For
Along with giving Fraley the boot, the Cincinnati Reds recalled right-hander Connor Phillips and Outfielder Will Benson from Triple-A Louisville while optioning left-hander Joe La Sorsa back to Triple-A. It is the kind of roster churn that makes your head spin and accomplishes nothing meaningful.
Phillips and Benson better hope they packed light, because at this rate, they will be back in Louisville faster than you can say “roster construction nightmare.” The Cincinnati Reds are playing organizational Jenga, pulling pieces out and hoping the whole thing doesn’t collapse.
What’s Next For Fraley?
Now, Fraley enters the limbo known as being designated for assignment. The Cincinnati Reds have 10 days to trade him, release him, or send him to the minors if he clears waivers. Given his track record and veteran presence, there is probably a team out there willing to take a flyer on him.
Maybe he lands somewhere that actually values his contributions, or maybe he ends up in Triple-A, wondering how four years of service time led to this moment. Either way, his Cincinnati chapter is closing in the most anticlimactic way possible.
