The Reds have agreed to a trade that’ll send lefty John Lamb to the Rays, tweets Zach Links of MLBTR and Pro Football Rumors. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports tweets that the Rays are sending cash back to the Reds in return.
The 26-year-old Lamb was one of three left-handers that the Reds acquired from the Royals in 2015’s Johnny Cueto blockbuster. Once touted as one of the top 20 prospects in all of baseball by both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, Lamb’s stock has dropped precipitously over the years due to multiple injuries. In addition to the two back surgeries to repair herniated disks, Lamb also underwent Tommy John surgery as a minor leaguer and missed nearly two full seasons as a result. He’s pitched with the Reds in each of the past two seasons but has struggled in the Majors, posting a combined 6.17 ERA with 8.7 K/9 against 3.8 BB/9 in 119 2/3 innings.
Lamb’s struggles were present in Triple-A Louisville this year as well, but he’s excelled in the minors as recently as 2015, when he pitched to a stellar 2.67 ERA with 9.5 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9 in 111 1/3 innings. The former fifth-round pick is out of minor league options, so while he could potentially open the 2017 season on the Major League disabled list, they’ll need to make a quick decision on him when he’s ready to be activated (assuming, of course, that the Rays don’t try to sneak Lamb through waivers this winter).
The Rays just absolutely robbed the Reds. This reds rebuild is starting off terribly. Absolutely terrible
Not that it can’t work out for the Rays, but the fact that the best offer the Reds got for Lamb was cash should say something about his value around the league at the moment. He’s 26 with Tommy John and two much more recent back surgeries already under his belt, and he’s out of options as well. He was a blue-chip name 4-5 years ago, but he was the clear third piece in the Cueto trade and his health has further betrayed him since that swap.
There’s no upside in just adding cash for Cincinnati, obviously, but there’s an easy argument to be made that Ariel Hernandez, who was given Lamb’s 40-man spot to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, carries more future value to the organization and that losing him (or any of the other names they’ll ultimately protect from the Rule 5) would’ve been more detrimental to the Reds than losing Lamb.
“He’s 26 with Tommy John…”
Having Tommy John surgery is hardly a big deal anymore.
John Lamb successfully returned from Tommy John surgery with a healthy UCL, but the velocity that once made him so highly rated didn’t. He hit 95mph early in his career, but now averages under 90mph. The back injuries have presumably interrupted his opportunity to train and recover.
Tell that to Zack Wheeler, who hasn’t pitched since 2014.
If lamb doesn’t make the 25 man roster won’t any team be able to pick him up for nothing or do they have to trade for him since he is out of options?
Since he’s out of options, he would have to clear waivers to be assigned outright to the minors. Outright waivers cannot be revoked, so yes, any team could claim him without having to work out a trade.
Even if he had options remaining, the same would apply if the Rays needed his 40-man roster spot.
Please tell me this is your first time considering the Reds rebuild.. First, the rebuild is well under way, not starting off. Secondly, please elaborate where John Lamb fit on the 25-man roster.
Wow.
What a buy low.
Absolutely robbed the Reds right here. For cash… This reds front office is terrible this rebuild is going to last for years
This is a great trade lamb will never be anything
“Great trade” = getting a few bucks for Lamb?
I think 30 minutes is too soon to truly evaluate a deal. Why don’t you weigh back in in a couple years.
He’s injured, out of options, and been passed by other younger pitching prospects. Robbed? I don’t see it. They decided he’d missed his shot, and moved on. If he (finally) gets healthy he might be a success story for the Rays, but his health has been a huge question mark for years.
Well then
Well it was either cash or nothing at all since he was dfa’d so….
I wouldn’t describe the potential if lamb ever got healthy as nothing.
Guy’s stuff is filthy. Doesn’t top out very high, but has the biggest mph differential in all of baseball.
I’ll take that potential as the nothing in this over cash
I meant nothing since he would’ve been claimed off waivers since he would’ve needed to be outright wd off the 40 man
Original story was he had cleared waivers. Now hearing the rays claimed him and a deal was worked out.
Does change things a little bit
Totally agree, seen him pitch a couple times in person the last 2 years and while the outcome wasn’t great, for an inning or 2 at a time you can definitely see why is was once so highly touted. Also train with a guy who played against him at end of 2014, said he was absolutely filthy but he was also throwing mid 90’s then. Weird to lose so much velo at that age, could be a few different reasons possibly not putting in all the work in the offseason
Yeah, it’s way more likely that he just simply isn’t putting in the work and not the surgically repaired ucl or two back surgeries…
Never said it was more likely to be the reason, I said there could be a few different reasons. But considering he was still throwing in the mid 90’s in the minors after those surgeries (2014) it is possible that he’s not doing enough whether it’s because he still has lingering affects from any of the surgeries which could definitely effect the way he prepares for a season, only he and his doctors/reds really have an idea of what could be the reason
Many forget about the velocity rebuilding program that the rays have that other teams don’t…this was a great buy.
2back surgeries and a TJ- not going to amount to anything, but I do agree with the one guy: reds front office/rebuild is going to last forever. Shipping Chapman at his all time low vs what NY got along with Frazier (boy I hope the guys LAD got don’t make us look worse in that 3-way)
Yeah, no one has ever came back from having surgery.
How many pitchers have successfully come back from TJ and 2 back surgeries and how many havent?
Some major overreactions here – “The Rays just absolutely robbed the Reds. This reds rebuild is starting off terribly. Absolutely terrible”
Lamb was one of three guys in that one trade, that’s like calling the Leake-Duvall/Mella deal terrible because Mella hasn’t lived up to hopes, or the Latos-Disco/Wallach deal because Wallach hasn’t broken through.
Lamb has struggled with injuries his whole career. He used to be a fairly hard thrower, but his velocity didn’t return after Tommy John surgery. He reinvented himself as a promising soft tosser, but now he’s had neck problems, treated by two surgeries, over the past couple of years. In 2016 his average fastball velocity was below 90mph.
I’ve always rooted for Lamb, but he’s been surpassed by other Reds prospects. I hope he stays healthy, and regains some velocity, to become a success story for the Rays… but Lamb is injured, out of options, and now behind DeSclafani, Finnegan, Bailey, Straily, Reed, Stephenson, and soon Amir Garrett on the team’s depth chart.
Reds needed beer money for the party at napoli’s later tonight
I’m not clear what role ‘this was a steal!’ people envision John Lamb having for the 2017 and 2018 Reds-
A. Beating out DeSclafani, Finnegan, Bailey, Straily, Reed, Stephenson, and Garrett (maybe Iglesias or Lorenzen too) for a coveted rotation spot, while starting his season on the DL with a neck injury they already said would keep him out through spring training?
B. Winning a bullpen spot, bringing his 89mph fastball in as a setupman?
C. Using him as a long reliever, despite a long history of injury concerns that probably limit his use a great deal?
D. Using him as a lefty specialist, despite lefthanded batters hitting .303 against him in his career?
This kid is 26 was once a top prospect oh well he’s injured but to just get cash for a kid who is 26 alone a lefty who was once a top prospect how is that not a steal. The Rays are probably in the top 2 of teams who turn crap pitchers back to Wel a over average pitchers. All the Reds fans are gonna hate blah blah but it’s cash. Not a player cash which gets the Reds pretty much nothing for a 26 year old left who we know has sick stuff. Yes it is a “steal”
Because he is not the same pitcher who was once a top prospect. Do some research before posting, you may come off less ignorant.
If you weren’t so ignorant you would be able to read i said once a top prospect. I don’t care if he’s not now the point is the talent was once there and the Rays do a damn good job of pulling that back out of pitchers and he’s 26. I don’t need to do research to know that for a little cash kicker the Rays get a 26 year old left who has nasty stuff and was ONCE a top prospect for a little amount of cash. If that’s not a steal what is? That’s the best buy low you can get.
You have no idea what you are talking about. He does not have nasty stuff anymore, likely due to the injuries. Again, do some research, you may then understand why he was available for only cash.
You have to consider the value of taking up a spot on the 40 man roster – the rays now have to protect him after he’s off the dl and since he’s out of options, he’ll take up a 25 man roster position…reds took what they could which was better than nothing and possibly leaving another prospect unprotected. as a fan I know it hurts but this is the business of baseball.
John who. I watched him on TV and in person. He was bombed in every start and is nothing more then a batting practice pitcher. Batters tee off on him and by the third inning in his starts reds were well on way to lopsided defeats.
Reds front office got a great return on Leake with Duvall. Also trading Frazier and getting Peraza. Reds minor league system one of most improved. Lamb was roasted and good riddance.
Suspension of 50 plus appears warranted. He is a piece of garbage
Just stop.
Go home.
Im sorry I didn’t know trading an all star third baseman and a franchise cornerstone player and getting one ok prospect back was good. They broke records for how terrible their bullpen was last year. The Reds are going to be trash for a very long time.
Peraza and schebler are both better than “ok” prospects. They sold high on Frazier who’s only real good skill is hitting dingers. And they also got finnegan, who was good despite all the homers this year for a rental
Despite looking like he should be pitching in a penal league, Lamb is without a doubt one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet and talk to. A stand up guy that I’ll be rooting for in a Rays uniform this year.