The Reds announced they’ve activated shortstop José Barrero from the 10-day injured list. He’s been optioned to Triple-A Louisville, so no additional move is necessary.
Barrero has been on a rehab assignment with Louisville since May 20, and he’ll remain with the Bats for the time being. Position players are allowed up to 20 days on rehab stints before the team must either reinstate them from the IL or recall them from the stint and shut them down for at least another five days (if the player has suffered a setback or a new injury). Barrero’s rehab window was set to wrap up on Wednesday.
The team evidently determined Barrero needs more reps against minor league arms, though, so they’ll keep him on optional assignment. The 24-year-old hasn’t played in a major league game this season after suffering a left hamate injury in Spring Training. While he’s obviously now healthy enough to play, he’s shown some signs of rust with Louisville. Barrero has punched out in 24 of his 57 plate appearances (42.1% rate) on the rehab stint, although he’s also collected a trio of home runs and doubles apiece.
Barrero will spend some more time with the Bats, but he figures to make his return to Cincinnati at some point in the not too distant future. The native of Cuba has been one of the organization’s most promising young players for the past few years, and he entered the 2022 campaign as Baseball America’s #33 overall prospect. He looked a strong candidate to open the season as the Reds shortstop before his Spring Training injury.
Between 2020-21, Barrero tallied 124 plate appearances over 45 MLB games. He’s stumbled to a .197/.242/.248 line, striking out 34.7% of the time against a tiny 3.2% walk rate. He combined for a huge .303/.380/.539 mark between Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville last season, though, and he’s regarded by prospect evaluators as a potential above-average defender at shortstop. It stands to reason the Reds will want to get an extended look for Barrero against big league arms after he gets his timing down in Triple-A, particularly since the club has floundered to an 18-35 start and is a virtual lock to miss the postseason.
Kyle Farmer has been the Reds’ primary shortstop this season, just as he was last year. The former catcher has held his own, entering play Monday with a .258/.314/.421 slash that checks in right around league average by measure of wRC+. It’s the second straight solid season for Farmer, who has surprisingly developed into a regular in his early-30’s.
Farmer will continue holding down the shortstop job while Barrero is in the minors, but it stands to reason other teams will inquire about his availability leading up to the August 2 trade deadline. Cincinnati is likely to listen on veterans this summer given their first-half struggles, and Farmer could be an affordable target for shortstop-needy teams. He’s playing this season on a $3.155MM salary, and while the former eighth-round pick is controllable through 2024, Barrero’s presence and Farmer’s age (32 in August) could push the Reds to deal him in the next couple months.
The Reds are soon to get some help on the other side of the second bag, as the club informed reporters that Jonathan India will start a rehab assignment in Louisville this week (via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). India has been out of action for a bit more than a month dealing with right hamstring trouble, and the reigning NL Rookie of the Year says he’s targeting June 17 for a return to the big league club. India has only appeared in 11 games this year on account of a pair of IL stints.
Always feel for Barrero. His mother passed, which caused him to change his last name from Garcia to Barrero in honor of her. Respect.
Barrero will be back soon. Didn’t know that was the reason his named changed. Respect.
Farmer should be on the trading block. Great utility player, even better teammate. Could be a great pickup for a playoff team.
Agreed
Was it actually 77 f bombs?
I found it on You Tube once. It was a very restrained, but crazy angry BPrice. He got madder and madder, and the F-bombs were too many for me to count! Brandon Phillips lost his, umm, cool with the same ‘sportswriter’ who shall remain nameless a few years before that.
Sell the team Bob.
The reporter is C Trent Rosecrans. Super talented. Great content. Total self righteous type, from my perspective. He can probably back it up, but, again, talented very much so.
Super talented? He’s average or slightly above at best. He is a pompous son of a gun, so yes, I understand why the players don’t like him.
Agree 150% with both of you. Total pompous ass, who thrives on being the center of attention. #CTrentSux #SellTheTeamBob
When Barrero comes up we need to get him in the lineup every day at short (not center)so we can see what he can do. This will determine the path forward for Matt McLain and Elly DelaCruz as they have shown high ceilings. Trading Farmer makes sense if he can land a starting roll somewhere else. Lots of respect for Kyle but we have to sort out our future.
No one questions Barrero’s glove, it’s just the bat that’s in question. I think it will show up, but he hasn’t proven it yet.
Reds have Farmer through 23, and McLain, De La Cruz, and Torres could all be ready by 24, any one of which could take over SS from Farmer.
2023 Reds OF, Senzel (IL prone), Aquino (if not DFA’d again), Fraley, and Friedl.
If the Reds have a MLB average SS, but not 1 MLB average OF, why wouldn’t you put Barrero in the OF. Let McLain, De La Cruz or Torres take SS in the back half of 23 or out of Spring 24.
We have A LOT of bats in question!
Rather see Farmer in left than Barrero
Senzel is fine as our everyday CF. Stephenson solid at C. India a talent at 2B. Going forward, the rest is a toss up.
Roman Quinn, who elected to become a FA after being DFA by Philly, would be a smart pick up for the Reds. Play him in CF and move Senzel to LF where perhaps the chance of injury is less.
Quinn can fly. Would be interesting to see what he could do if he were given an everyday gig instead of sporadic playing time. Ain’t no fun when you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. Has Billy H. type of speed with more meat and potatoes on his frame.
Will the Reds trade Joey to a contender like the Cubs did with Rizzo? Probably best for Joey and the Reds that it happens.
Guys like Aquino, Naylor, Farmer, Moose et al are not building blocks. Trade them all, even if you have to take a few punches to the gut to do it.
If Joey wants to retire a Red I believe he has earned the right.
Quinn can’t steal first base. At age 29, he’s no longer a prospect. Lousy OBP and his best OPS+ over the last 2.5 years is 65. Keep Senzel in CF and Naquin in RF. Flip Pham at the deadline. Trade Castillo or Mahle for a stud OFr. Sign the one you don’t trade to an extension.
The starting pitching is shaping up to be incredible in a year or two’s time.
Agree, our young starters are a big ray of hope. Add Lodolo in the mix and it could be an impressive staff. Add a quality closer when we are ready to complete and we’re there.