The Reds have announced the activation of catcher Devin Mesoraco from the 10-day DL. To create room on the active roster, righty Barrett Astin was optioned back to Triple-A.
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It has been exactly one year since Mesoraco last suited up at the major league level. This time last year, he was struggling to a .140/.218/.160 batting line over 55 plate appearances before suffering a shoulder injury. When he underwent surgery for a labrum tear, it marked the second consecutive year in which Mesoraco was shut down early with a significant injury after scuffing at the plate.
Mesoraco ended up not only having work done to his shoulder, but also another procedure on his hip. There’s now plenty of health uncertainty for the 28-year-old, who’ll be looking to prove again that he can handle MLB pitching both at the plate and behind it.
Of course, it wasn’t long ago that Mesoraco looked like a core piece for the franchise. In 2014, he slashed an excellent .273/.359/.534 and swatted 25 home runs in just 440 plate appearances. That led to a four-year, $28MM extension that bought up all his arbitration eligibility and also accounted for one would-be free agent season. But the deal expires after the 2018 campaign, so Mesoraco and his team will hope that he is able to regain his trajectory sooner rather than later.
Cincinnati will keep an insurance policy on hand in the even that Mesoraco struggles. Tucker Barnhart will presumably continue to see a fair bit of action as Mesoraco is eased back in. And Rule 5 selection Stuart Turner will keep his roster spot, meaning the team will carry three backstops — at least for the time being.
Astin needs to be given a look. There are plenty of other candidates to be sent out. Stephenson and Lorenzen should have options, and Stephenson needs to be stretched back into a starter anyways as long relief doesn’t seem to fit him. Otherwise DFA Blake Wood, who’s not worth a bullpen spot.
I agree with the wood statement he is horrid. But lorenzen is above average, he should never see the minors again.
Lorenzen certainly isn’t getting sent down. He’s the second-best reliever (by talent) in our bullpen after Iglesias and has only given up runs in 2 outings this year. Astin will be up and down all year in that 7th bullpen spot. Price commented on how that 7th spot would work in an article on MLB.com yesterday, and said that they would do a lot of shuffling to keep fresh arms in the bullpen.
What exactly has Lorenzen done to warrant being sent down?
They should just release Mesoraco, he’s done.
He’s only had one clean appearance in his past five, the save against Milwaukee (omitting the 1 out he got in his most recent one).
It’s a small sample size and I wouldn’t be surprised if he reeled off a string of good outings, but he’s been shaky since the Reds started to struggle. More than a hit per inning by a power reliever doesn’t inspire confidence.
I would’ve personally sent down Stephenson and put him into the Louisville rotation or offered Turner back to the Twins. Just saying Lorenzen could’ve been a possibility to get sent down.
Stephenson and/or Reed are guys that need more development if they are going to be starters. Neither are going to get the innings necessary to develop at the MLB level. Send one of those guys down and if you’re set on keeping Mesoraco start making him a platoon partner with Schebler and slide Duvall to RF against lefties with Mesoraco in LF.
Mesoraco has had too many issues to be an every day player and both Turner and Barnhart are better defensively.
Mesoraco has too much upside, and too big of a contract to release him. That makes zero sense!
When he bats .150 this year then the Reds shouldn’t think too hard about it.
A catcher with hip and shoulder problems would make me nervous. He may end up in the AL as a DH.
Good debut 1-3 with a walk. The walk was overshadowed by a terrible base running mistake by Suarez.