The Reds announced that outfielder Aristides Aquino has been designated for assignment. The move opens up roster space for right-hander Connor Overton, whose contract was officially selected in time to start tonight’s game.
Aquino was off to a miserable start, with only two hits and a .215 OPS over his first 43 plate appearances. Since Aquino is out of options, the Reds had no choice but to DFA the outfielder and they now risk losing him on the waiver wire. It remains to be seen if Aquino might generate any interest, considering he has batted only .164/.271/.347 over 303 PA since the start of the 2020 season.
Then again, a team might take a flier on Aquino to see if a change of scenery might help him rediscover any of his amazing 2019 form. Aquino made his big league debut with one game in the 2018 season and then returned to the majors after being called up by Cincinnati on August 1, 2019. Aquino then went on one of the more memorable out-of-nowhere tears in recent memory as he hit 15 homers and slashed .313/.379/.750 over his first 124 PA. Even after that Ruthian month, however, Aquino significantly cooled off during September.
Playing mostly as a right fielder during his career, Aquino also has experience in both left and center, so he, at least, offers three-position depth, even if he isn’t a defensive standout anywhere on the grass. Nick Senzel, Tommy Pham, Tyler Naquin, and Jake Fraley make up the Reds’ top outfield choices on the current roster, with Matt Reynolds and Brandon Drury able to play some outfield in a pinch.
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