CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Cincinnati Reds outfielder Delino Deshields Jr. has elected to become a free agent after he refused an outright assignment on Monday.
MLB.com reporter Mark Sheldon had the initial report.
Looking for outfield depth, the Reds acquired Deshields in August from the Boston Red Sox for cash. In 25 games he his .255 (12-for-47) with a home run, 6 RBI and a pair of stolen bases.
He was outrighted off the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A on Oct. 7.
The 29-year-old, who is the son of the team's first base coach Delino Deshields, owns a career .246 average in seven years covering 601 games.
LORENZEN LOOKING FOR CHANCE
Pitcher Michael Lorenzen entered Spring Training in February with his sights set on a spot in the Reds starting rotation -- and might have had that opportunity, ut a shoulder strain put him on the injured list until mid-July. Then he suffered a hamstring injury running the bases just a little over three weeks later. He finished the 2021 campaign 1-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 29 appearances.
The 29-year-old right-hander, who is 23-23 with a 4.07 ERA in 295 career games, is now a free agent and reportedly hopes to find a team willing to let him start in 2022.
Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle are expected to return to the rotation next year. Wade Miley, who was arguably the team's most consistent pitcher this past season, has a $10 million club option and Vladimir Gutierrez was 9-6 with a 4.74 ERA in 22 starts. Prospects Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo may also be auditioned for a spot on the roster next year, and Tony Santillan could get a look, as well.
ARBITRATION PROJECTIONS
The Reds have 10 players up for arbitration this offseason, including All-Star outfielder Jesse Winker, a pair of projected starters in Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, and oft-injured Nick Senzel.
Matt Swartz from MLB Trade Rumors, developed an algorithm to project salaries for all arbitration-eligible MLB players using several metrics and has published a list of projections for more than a decade.
Here is what the program has for Reds players:
- Tyler Naquin – $3.6MM
- Luis Cessa – $1.6MM
- Luis Castillo – $7.6MM
- Amir Garrett – $2.2MM
- Jesse Winker – $6.8MM
- Tyler Mahle – $5.6MM
- Kyle Farmer – $2.2MM
- Jeff Hoffman – $1.1MM
- Lucas Sims – $1.2MM
- Nick Senzel – $1.1MM
That totals $33 million for a group that made less than half of that (nearly $16 million) last season.
Keep in mind outfielder Nick Castellanos has an opt-out clause in his contract and can become a free agent. He made $14 million in base salary last season and that would, if he opts back in, increase to $16 million in 2022.