The Reds designated pitcher Micah Owings for assignment to make room for newly-signed draft pick Yasmani Grandal on the 40-man roster, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Owings was acquired from the Diamondbacks as the player to be named later in the Adam Dunn trade about two years ago. In his Reds career he posted a 5.35 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 5.2 BB/9, and 1.2 HR/9 in 153 innings. He's dealt with shoulder issues in recent years. Owings is known for his bat; he slugged four homers, five doubles, and a triple in 76 Reds plate appearances.
The Brewers should look into Owings, via trade, or whatever. He’s better than anything they’ve got right now (besides Gallardo and Wolf).
He’s totally going to be a Pirate.
why doesnt he just become a full time hitter?
*sigh* Owings can’t be too happy losing his roster spot to a rook who has a yet to play an inning above college level.
861 OPS … a homer every 20 AB’s. Seriously, why can’t the guy go down to the minors and learn to be a full-time hitter?
If Adam Loewen thinks he has a chance then Owings should definitely give it a shot.
Not quite as athletic as an Ankiel, but does his bat make him a better LF or first baseman than most people starting today?
I don’t know if he is or isn’t. Hard to tell from the small sample sizes across many seasons. However, if he is going to be a fringe pitcher (the kind of guy that is routinely cut or given away), why not take a shot at being a full-time hitter. I don’t see the downside to giving it a try.
He’ll wind up somewhere … he was just the odd man out on a crowded and talented 40 man roster. Reds don’t have the room to carry a guy who was the least talented of the other pitchers he was up against. While he may have value as a hitter … the Red just have too much young talent in that department also to warrant keeping him around.
IMO, he’s the kind of guy the Astros could use while they rebuild.
pirates please he is better than everyone in that rotation not named mcdonald or maholm
Shame. Here’s hoping my favorite Non-Twins pitcher lands on his feet somewhere.
He can go back to AZ and be arguably their 4th 5th best pitcher. Then there is that bat.
Maybe my Cards can teach him to play 3B. Sign him and let Oquendo tutor him!
Clearly I am suffering from the anguish induced by reading that the Cards may be interested in Blum or Encarnacion…
He was the “goose” in a game of “Duck, Duck, Goose.” The Reds’ really have some nice pitching depth.
Seriously, Micah. Quit pitching, learn to play a corner OF position, and start slugging.
It has to be on his mind. As a D’Back he was always a danger at the plate but a hot & cold pitcher. He could play 1B or a corner OF spot for most teams. He’s too good a hitter to fall out of the Majors. He’ll land somewhere this off season. He’s a better hitter than Ankiel. I wish him well.