Jake Fraley's playing time had decreased significantly since the Cincinnati Reds added two hitters at the trade deadline. He was DFA'd Sunday.
Faced with operating short-handed on their bench heading into a getaway-day game against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday designated for assignment veteran outfielder Jake Fraley and recalled Will Benson from the minors.
Fraley, who was acquired in the spring of 2022 from Seattle in the Eugenio Suarez/Jesse Winker trade, has seen his playing time decline since a series of trade-deadline acquisitions, including playing just once during this six-game homestand.
With catcher Tyler Stephenson nursing a sore left thumb the past few days, the Reds finally cut ties with Fraley in a move that had been discussed over the past week or two.
“We were a little concerned about playing short, like with a two-man bench,” said manager Terry Francona, who had catcher Jose Trevino catching a day game Sunday after Saturday’s night game because of Stephenson’s status.
“Then through conversations – and there’s some that are kind of private and some that I can’t explain – we just came to the idea of giving Jake a chance to go play where maybe he thinks he deserves to play – which I understand – is maybe better than him sitting on the bench here.”
Fraley, who makes $3.13 million this year and is eligible for arbitration again this winter, might have been a non-tender candidate at that point anyway.
His last game was Saturday night, when he came off the bench to play left field in the seventh inning. He committed an error in the 10th inning when he hyper-extended his knee and fell to the ground fielding a single to left, allowing a run to score on the play.
He left the game at that point, but the knee was fine by the time he was examined after the game.
Fraley has dealt with a series of injuries over his nearly four seasons with the Reds, the hard-nosed veteran playing through some, including regular starts down the stretch in 2023 when the team was fighting to reach the playoffs.
“I don’t really think there’s ever an easy one regardless of how guys are (regarded),” Francona said of DFA, “because you’re making decisions that alter their life. It’s a big deal, and we take it that way.
“Not that I need an excuse to lose sleep last night, but I do because you think about it the whole time. I think the day I stop thinking about it I’ll re-retire.”
Francona said Stephenson was available if needed off the bench to catch.
The Reds also made a pitching move as they prepared to face the Brewers ahead of a three-city road trip out west. Left-hander Joe La Sorsa, who pitched the first two games of the series, was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville; Connor Phillips was called up.
Phillips was one of the three players acquired with Fraley in that 2022 deal with Seattle (also left-hander Brandon Williamson and right-hander Justin Dunn).
Fraley hit .232 with six home runs and a .710 OPS in 67 games for the Reds this season. He hit .260 with 38 home runs, 49 stolen bases and a .757 OPS in 362 career games with the Reds.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds DFA veteran Jake Fraley, recall Will Benson from AAA
Category: Baseball
