The Reds have acquired right-hander Jose De Leon from the Rays for cash and a player to be named later, Cincinnati announced. The move leaves the Reds with a full 40-man roster.
Now 27, De Leon was once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. He joined the Rays in January 2017 in a straight-up swap with the Dodgers for second baseman Logan Forsythe, though De Leon’s stock has dropped since then. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2018, causing him to miss that entire year, and only threw four innings at the major league level this past season. However, De Leon did toss 51 1/3 frames (17 starts, 13 appearances) of 3.51 ERA/3.72 FIP ball with 12.8 K/9 and 4.73 BB/9 with Triple-A Durham.
This has the potential to be a big pick up
Could not agree more
This has the potential of a low risk/high reward for the Reds. Very good move.
I dunno, he’s got to be almost sixty by now. You think he’s still got much upside? I’ll grant he’s cheap, so worth a flyer.
27 with little mlb experience and not as much wear on the tires. still has lot of upside.
I wouldn’t say any pitcher who has had TJ has “not as much wear on the tires.”
For sure a nice move for CIN
The fact that he is now on his 3rd team in three years says something else.
….ah, yes. Ladies and Gentlemen, Debbie Downer has arrived.
That he is desirable?
Did you see Tommy John in March 2018? He bounced back somewhat last year. If you’ll notice, guys do my typically return to form until year 2 after TJ surgery. Plus he was still very young. It feels like a very good pickup.
Nice buy low move assuming the PTBNL isn’t great
Can the PTBNL vary, like it has to be one of a certain three players if he pitches few innings in the first half of season, or one of a certain three better players if he pitches many innings?
I do believe there are cases like that.
Yes, it can. That said, I’m guessing the PTBNL is someone else who’s being left unprotected. If he doesn’t get taken in Rule 5, they complete the trade. If he does, it turns into more cash.
This is a smart move by the Reds. De Leon has potential to become a good starting pitcher.
Good move for the Reds. They benefit from the loaded Rays farm system as they prepare for the Rule 5 draft. High upside.
wow. prices of a full 40 man and a lot of guys that are rule 5 eligible.
I like this move for the Reds
I remember back when there was a lot of hype around him with LA. He’s old now for a prospect but I’ll be rooting for him to get healthy and make a career for hinself
Huh..this could turn into a sneaky good move. De Leon was previously a top 50 prospect so the pedigree is there. My only concern is, De Leon is being passed on by not one but two different clubs that have good reputations for developing pitchers. Is it just the injuries or is there more to it because ptbn and cash considerations by itself is never a big pay for a player.
Where are those organizations with regards to their 40 man roster? It could be that they need to keep room for in-house options of their own.
Also, the entire Reds organization has been torn down to the studs and they are rebuilding their entire philosophy and approach so, Cincinnati could be the exact right place for these pitchers to land.
Interesting pickup. Worth a try to see if he still has some of his top prospect magic
Too bad the Tigers couldn’t make a move like this. They have plenty of roster spots open.
I know that he hasn’t started a Major League game since 2016, when he was 23, 4 starts to be exact, but I think he could be a good back of the rotation pitcher for Cincinnati.
Good pickup! He could turn out to be a good piece in the bullpen. Barring injuries I don’t see him as a starter.
Potential to be a great pickup for the Reds, depending on the level of the PTBNL.
?
I enjoy how much people love this trade for the reds knowing almost nothing about the cost
Never as enjoyable as some smarmy punk on the internet………
^ Comment of the Day.
Something tells me the Reds didn’t give up very much for De Leon.
You are 100% correct. There is no way to rate this deal until you know the cash amount and the PTBNL.
Generally speaking, the Rays are pretty darn good at evaluating good, young, cheap talent. They don’t get fleeced very often.
Name one player to be named later. Name one who has amounted to anything. I’d have to say the cost is low.
Deleon never wowed the Dodgers or Rays with his work ethic…..still, the base talent is there….and usually when it’s “cash or a ptbnl”, it’s cash….especially for the Rays…..
Wellll it says and, not of
Or*
Love this for the Reds
Great move by the Reds.
If they’re giving DeLeon away, why not?
Can they give away a DeLorean too? Because that would be dope as hell
“If you’re just giving away that apple” – Adam
outstanding move!!! Dude has the potential Castillo did when he was acquired, if not higher. Well done!
Brilliant move for the Reds. Has a real chance to get his career on track there.
I get the excitement, Reds’ fans. But this is probably the biggest news about DeLeon you’ll have all year.
Seems like a excellent move for the Reds. My goodness. If you’re a rebuilding team who didn’t get this guy, you just missed out on a low risk potentially very high reward move
Pissed that my Brewers didn’t make this move.
Doubly pissed Derek Johnson will now teach him how to beat us.
I’m not saying it’s a bad move for the Reds but for all of you thinking this team should have made the move or this team should have remember by adding Deleon to the 40 man you’d have to leave someone unprotected and many teams don’t have the room. Deleon is also out of options thats why the Rays traded him. He’s not going to be working things out in AAA he’s going to be pitching in major league games. It’s not the player to be named later that is the concern it’s the roster spot and the risk of losing meaningful major league games while he tries to work himself into form. Might make sense for the Reds but not necessarily for every team in the league
For one, he’s got the best pitching coach in the league and an up and coming top notch analytics team. However, I’m not going to say ‘great move’ until it is. As of right now, it’s a pretty solid low risk acquisition.
Likely took the spot of Alfredo Rodriguez or TJ Friedl which I’m fine with…