The Reds introduced that they’ve recalled outfielder Blake Dunn from Triple-A Louisville. In a corresponding transfer, first baseman Dominic Smith has been designated for task. The membership’s 40-man roster depend drops to 39.
Smith, 29, was with the Reds for simply over per week. He signed with them on August 22 and has since taken 29 plate appearances over 9 video games, hitting simply .192/.276/.269 in that point. That’s clearly not nice manufacturing however it’s additionally not a significant pattern dimension to attract conclusions from.
The truth that Smith is now being bumped from the roster may say extra in regards to the crew than about him. The Reds have been 5.5 video games again of a playoff spot when Smith was signed however they’ve since fallen to 9.5 video games again. With their playoff hopes now basically dashed, there’s little use for an impending free agent like Smith, particularly one with no actual defensive versatility. They’ll as a substitute use their remaining video games to offer enjoying time to gamers making an attempt to earn roles on subsequent yr’s membership, resembling Dunn.
Smith has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright task, so he’ll seemingly be a free agent within the coming days, both by a launch or by him exercising his proper to go for the open market. Previous to his disappointing stint in Cincinnati, he had a greater run in Boston. In 84 video games for the Pink Sox, he hit .237/.317/.390 for a wRC+ of 96, indicating he was 4% beneath league common.
He may maybe attempt to latch on some place else for the rest of the season, although he received’t be postseason eligible with a brand new membership because it’s now after the September 1 closing date. Golf equipment out of competition just like the Reds would most likely desire to offer enjoying time to controllable gamers. Smith had a robust run in 2019-20, hitting .299/.366/.571 over these two seasons, however it’s been a tough experience aspect since then. In over 1,500 journeys to the plate from 2021 to the current, he’s hit .241/.311/.360 for a wRC+ of 86.