Cincinnati Reds Clearing Roster Spots as Opening Day Approaches

By Adam Hughes | Mar 24, 2015

With less than two week left until Opening Day, the Cincinnati Reds are busy solidifying their 40-man roster, which means Major League spring training has ended for some players who entered March with high hopes of sticking on the Riverfront. Among those falling on the sword, in one way or another, on Monday were Neftali Soto, Eugenio Suarez, Jose Mijares, Tucker Barnhart, Donald Lutz, Chad Wallach and Josh Satin.

More from Cincinnati Reds

Mijares, a reliever who last appeared in Majors for the San Francisco Giants, was released outright.

Barnhart, a catcher who spent a decent chunk of 2014 in Cincinnati while Devin Mesoraco recovered from injury early, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. The move likely means that Brayan Pena will be Cincy’s lone back-up backstop to start the season.

Gone to Louisville, too, is shortstop Suarez, who garnered significant playing time this Spring but was probably never really a threat to Zack Cozart’s job. That could change, though, if Suarez can continue the strong hitting he showed in Arizona.

Outfielder Donald Lutz was also optioned to Louisville.

Infielder Lutz and catcher Wallach were sent to minor league camp.

Soto, an infielder whom the Reds drafted in 2007, was sold to the Chicago White Sox. He has shown decent power in the minors but has never been able to make much of an impact in the Majors. He is likely looking at more minor league work with the ChiSox.

Collectively, these moves clear three spots on the Reds’ 40-man roster — Barnhart, Lutz, Suarez — and give manager Bryan Price some flexibility over the last week-plus of Spring Training. One of the open slots will go to pitcher Jason Marquis, who was named to the starting rotation last week.

There will likely be some jockeying among relievers between now and Opening Day, which could affect the final roster heading into April

Next: An 'Easy' Solution to the Pete Rose Reinstatement Dilemma

More from Riverfront Ball

Home/Cincinnati Reds