Reds quietly bracing for brutal roster decisions with outfielder return

The Cincinnati Reds have assigned Jake Fraley to Triple-A Louisville for a rehab stint and expect the outfielder to rejoin the major league roster soon — possibly within the week. When Fraley is activated, it will likely result in Connor Joe being sent down to the minors. However, Fraley’s return is just one of several roster decisions the Reds will need to address in the near future, and those decisions are only going to get tougher.

Although Fraley has struggled at the plate this season, he still has minor league options and is expected to rejoin the big league club once fully healthy. That said, he might now be lower on the depth chart behind Will Benson, who has made a strong impression since his recent return to the majors.

Fraley isn’t the only player on the mend. Infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand has also started a rehab assignment, and although there’s no firm timeline for his return, the Reds will soon face another roster crunch when he’s cleared to play. That’s when the team’s roster challenges could become especially complicated.

The returns of Jake Fraley and Christian Enacarnacion-Strand could throw the Reds roster into chaos

To start, it’s worth pointing out that Encarnacion-Strand wasn’t performing particularly well before his stint on the injured list. While he does have significant power potential, he was batting only .158 with a .481 OPS when he got hurt. With Spencer Steer currently manning first base and Encarnacion-Strand still having minor-league options, the Reds might opt to keep him in Triple-A until he proves he’s ready to return.

Cincinnati could technically release Garrett Hampson—originally expected to serve as a utility bench piece—but since he’s on a major-league contract and can’t be sent down without passing through waivers, the team may be more patient with him than his performance warrants.

One lingering issue is the Reds’ decision to carry three catchers on the roster. Austin Wynns hasn’t started a game behind the plate since May 6 against Atlanta, and his defensive shortcomings are apparent. Still, due to the team’s lack of organizational depth at catcher, placing Wynns on waivers could be a risky move.

Another player to monitor is Noelvi Marte. The young third baseman is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery and is due for an MRI this week to determine next steps. Despite this progress, he’s likely still a few weeks away. And although many fans might prefer to ignore it, Jeimer Candelario is also working his way back and could return next month.

All things considered, Jake Fraley’s upcoming return to the roster is a straightforward move. But the wave of upcoming decisions will make things more complicated for Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall. How he manages the roster in the coming weeks will be key.

Once those choices are made, the focus will shift to manager Terry Francona and how he distributes playing time among a roster loaded with young players eager to prove themselves—but that’s a matter for another day.