The Reds have claimed righty Jose Lopez off waivers from the Giants, per a club announcement. To open a roster spot, lefty Brandon Finnegan was designated for assignment.
Lopez had been claimed from Cincinnati in mid-February. Given a chance to reconsider their decision after watching both players this spring, the Reds decided they’d rather have him back at the expense of Finnegan. While he didn’t impress in camp, Lopez remains an interesting hurler with a strong pedigree.
Finnegan’s career has gone off the rails a bit after beginning with real promise. He has dealt with injury issues and produced brutal results last year. The former first-rounder, who cracked the majors in his first professional season, was tagged for 11 earned runs in five innings this spring.
rxbrgr
Quite a fall from grace for Finnegan.
GareBear
Just on loyalty and nostalgia, Dayton Moore will bring him back. If he stays healthy he may even have a shot to make the roster quickly
Dianagram 2
Have we begun Finnegan’s wake?
realgone2
He burned out fast
andrewgauldin
Not really. He’s been an above average pitcher his whole career except 2018, in which he only pitched 20 innings. The problem was him staying healthy, not his performance, minus those 20 innings.
Someone will undoubtedly give him a shot.
realgone2
He’s only pitched above 30 innings twice in 5 years and then just got DFA’d that’s burning out fast.
progers2622
His whole career? All 260 innings of them.
andrewgauldin
I know he started a lot, but for a reliever that 4-5 years. 260 innings is quite a bit. Consistent for about 240 of those innings.
progers2622
79 inning of relief over 3 years the rest of his inning came as a starter.
bledrules
Only 20 innings in mlb he was just as awful in aaa last year
Oxford Karma
He will be a royal soon. They didn’t want to trade him, but needed Cueto.
allweatherfan
He burned that bridge.
lowtalker1
Watch the royals claim him and his career gets back on track
jdgoat
Wow at this point it’s probably all name value but I’d like Finnegan if my team had an opening. Doubt he’ll clear.
its_happening
I’d give him a shot too.
jbigz12
The list of failed reds pitching prospects goes on and on. Might not have been a bad idea to trade for a whole rotation with the results they’ve gotten trying to develop guys recently.
progers2622
Something going on there when all there good talent ends up hurt.
Melchez
Finnegan had huge potential. He was great for the Royals. With Cincy he cant’ find the plate. Hope he bounces back.
mizzourah87
He was solid as a reliever, and struggled with performance and health as a starter, yet the Reds never even tried him in the bullpen. Maybe Finnegan should have just listened to the Royals in the first place. Talent evaluators are usually paid for a reason.
titanic struggle
Glad he’s gone…Walt was fleeced in that deal. No heart.
platediscipline
How do you get fleeced for a two month rental (who gave the royals squat down the stretch). Reds got 3 prospects with 2 of them fairly well regarded. Finnegan should never gotten starter innings. Reds suck at pitcher development.
jbigz12
He did throw a complete game in the World Series. The reds were completely out of it and were going to lose cueto so they certainly didn’t get fleeced but they didn’t end up with anything to show for
It. Maybe Cody reed but they’ve seemed to spur on him as a starter.
Throw Like a Girl
“Who gave the Royals squat down the stretch.”
LOL. Guess you weren’t paying attention down the stretch in 2015, huh?! Here’s what Johnny Cueto gave them: the clinching Game 5 of the ALDS, a game in which he was literally unhittable after the second inning, retiring the final 19 batters he faced, and the Royals moved on.
And then there was his last appearance in a Royals uniform, his unforgettable performance in Game 2 of the World Series, when he became the first American League pitcher in 24 years to throw a complete game in the World Series.
Yeah, he was pounded in his ALCS start in Toronto by the offensive juggernaut that was the Blue Jays that year, but sandwiched around that were two of the most incredible postseason starts ever seen, and both were absolutely key in bringing Kansas City its first title in 30 years.
But yeah, other than that he gave the Royals squat down the stretch.
martyfan
Very happy to have Lopez back with the Reds.
PhilliesFan012
God Cinci really got nothing out of the Cueto trade
bigredsfan41017
Just like the Chapman trade as Caleb Gotham is part of the Reds coaching staff
progers2622
Yeah or Suarez for Simon.
jbigz12
Straily for Castillo wasn’t too bad either. The reds have just had a horrible time developing any starters in that band box of a park.
wvredsfan
yeah , that Jose Peraza dude that the Reds got in the Chapman trade is awful
Kevin 28
They got Peraza in the Frazier trade. They no longer have anyone from the Chapman trade.
Jeff Zanghi
The Jose Lopez mlbreference link is to the wrong Jose Lopez haha… it goes to the 2B who played in the early 2000’s — on a comical note it did make me remember a guy I had all but forgotten and wonder why his career peaked then ended so quickly! haha
K_Man915
I was just talking to someone about this yesterday haha he was actually a fairly solid second basemen for a few years with the mariners and then just kinda disappeared… turns out he went to Japan or something.