The Reds claimed right-hander Roansy Contreras off waivers from the Rangers on Thursday, per announcements from both clubs. Texas had designated him for assignment last week. Cincinnati had a pair of vacancies on its 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn’t necessary.
Contreras, still just 25, will join his second organization of the offseason and third of the past calendar year. Once a top pitching prospect with the Yankees and Pirates — New York traded him to Pittsburgh in the Jameson Taillon swap — he’s begun to bounce around the league in journeyman fashion. Pittsburgh traded him to Anaheim for cash back in May, and the Rangers claimed him off waivers from the Halos on Halloween.
Back in 2022, Contreras looked like he was on his way to cementing a long-term place in the Pirates’ rotation. He pitched 95 innings with a 3.79 ERA, 21.1% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate in that rookie campaign. A year later, the right-hander lost more than a mile per hour off his heater and was trounced for a 6.59 ERA in 68 1/3 big league frames. His work in Triple-A Indianapolis was similarly shaky, with an ERA just under 5.00 in eight appearances (six starts).
Out of minor league options and losing his grip on a roster spot, Contreras was designated for assignment back in May. The Angels leaned on him for 52 innings of low-leverage relief following that cash swap, and Contreras held his own with a 4.33 ERA and more questionable rate stats (17.9 K%, 10.6 BB%). The full-time move to the ’pen didn’t get Contreras’ velocity back up to its previous 96 mph average; he sat 94.9 mph with the pitch in 2024.
If Contreras lasts the rest of the offseason on the Reds’ 40-man roster, he’ll compete for a bullpen spot this spring. He’d need to make the Opening Day club or else be designated for assignment once again, as he can’t be sent down to Triple-A without first clearing waivers. Alexis Diaz, Brent Suter, Fernando Cruz, Sam Moll, Emilio Pagan and Tony Santillan are all likely locked into spots (barring injuries or trades), but there could still be a couple openings up for grabs in camp, depending on how the front office proceeds for the remainder of the offseason.
White Sox will be better than the reds in 2026. Reds are meddling
Good one, you made me laugh.
Reds have a lot of talent.
White Sox have … some good fans.
White Sox have….prospects
Reds had a ton of injuries last year and I would expect their young hitters to step up this year but they still need a lot of work.
You meant “middling” big dog
Big dog may have meant meddling. Maybe they have a lot of mother-in-law wannabes on the team.
Was it Scoobless Joe who said – they would’ve gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling Reds.
A no risk claim by the Reds, give him a chance at spring training and see what you have there.
If anything dfa him send him down to AAA.
Or maybe an Asian team will try to sign him now and he goes to Japan or Korea worse things then that in the world.
He’s gotta better chance of passing through waivers during spring training too imo
Considering they did nothing else to offset their bullpen losses, looks like they will revert to their usual dumpster diving.
what have they lost in the pen that can’t be replaced on the waiver wire?
They need upgrades not more waiver guys.
The Rangers didn’t want to see him go. Not exactly dumpster diving.
100% negativity from you with every comment. Maybe go get some strange or something.
Get some pelt indeed. Jk I too would like to see an actual bullpen upgrade but there isn’t a lot out there and if they are gonna spend on such a tight budget offense comes first imo
Looks like the Reds are taking a Roansy gamble—hopefully, it’s not a Contrer-as-trophe!
Not sure why Halos did not take a look?
They had him last year and dfa him so Texas claimed him, they didn’t want him back.
Would have had to DFA someone else, and while he was passable last year, he’s not better than anyone else on the current roster.
Hopefully Nick Krull gets fired at the end of this season. This has been a terrible off-season. Now they are picking up waiver wire trash to try and fill out a bullpen.
Some 25 teams have not made a significant move this offseason. There’s no need for express shipping in time for Christmas.
I’d count the Reds in that. Singer is awful in odd years and is do for a bad season at GABP.
Singer was really only “awful” in 2023 (ERA+ of 81). His ERA+ in 2021 was 93. He was brought in for back of the rotation depth and his career ERA+ of 102 is slightly above average.
Singer has a ground ball % that is above average and a very good and very consistent career HR/9 of 1.1. It was a promising trade.
Back of the rotation starter while getting rid of the team captain cant be the best move of the off season. Like I said still no big moves by the Reds. Maybe they can just rip off the band aid and trade Elly for peanuts and continue the 30 plus year rebuild.
I forgot the team captain category. They start you with 2 runs if the captain plays, correct? The reds underachieve; perhaps the captain isn’t a great captain.
Starting pitching is more valuable than hitting.
In general, starting pitchers get paid more than hitters (which reinforces/proves my first statement).
India may have been the team captain, but he was hardly the most valuable of the position players. Second basemen with a career OPS+ of 104 with suspect glove/defensive abilities, even with other strong intangibles, are very exchangeable.
That said, the Singer/India trade WAS a big move. It gave them additional starting pitching depth from which to make future trades from.
lol. I am now 100% convinced earmbrister is really Nick Krall. No one else could possibly be that far up Krall’s ass.
Nah, I just don’t constantly whine like some do here …
You just don’t like to question how bad this front office is currently. This is the same team that missed the playoffs last year. You have to improve and I haven’t seen any attempts to yet.
Right. A new general manager will increase the market size and spend his own money to get players. In a year where starting pitching is going for insane money and a guy that was 0-10 gets a $9 million dollar deal, Krall has done pretty well.
Pretty well? This is only the 2nd move of the off-season for the Reds. The Cubs are getting better and the Reds are doing nothing.
Might be a great claim! Good job Reds
This isn’t even a C move lmao.
You’re awfully prescient today, matty… what are the winning Lotto numbers for tonight?!?
This costs peanuts to kick the tires and is a very good roll of the dice. If Roansy has anything in the tank, this will prove to be a valuable roster building move. If not, they DFA and move on. I wouldn’t have minded if my Pads did the exact same thing!
When this is only your 2nd move of the entire off season this isn’t a good move.
Gotta start somewheres! They weren’t signing Soto…
Obviously they aren’t signing anybody worth anything. Enjoy your team of stars.
Watch him pitch a no hitter against the Pirates
Nah; it will be a perfect game.
Not a bad flier. He’s young enough to hope for a rebound. If he doesn’t work out just subject him to waivers, possibly stash him in minors if he clears.