Major League Baseball is an unforgiving business, and the Cincinnati Reds have been given the business of late.
The Kansas City Royals put a hurting on Cincinnati in consecutive games, leaving the Reds' playoff hopes on life support. After losing by a combined 18 runs on Friday and Saturday, the 60-63 Reds stand just a 2.2% chance of making the playoffs, per ESPN.
The Reds may be nearing extinction, but help is on the way. Even if that help is only coming their way because their poor record aided them on the waiver wire.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Sunday that the Reds had successfully claimed former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Amed Rosario on waivers.
Rosario, 28, will be joining his third team in less than a month. He played most of the season with the Tampa Bay Rays, then was traded to the Dodgers at the July deadline. The Dodgers then surprisingly designated Rosario for assignment after just five games back with the team.
The most valuable skill Rosario brings to the Reds is his high-contact, high-average hitting approach. At .305 this season, Rosario would be in contention for a batting title if he had played the full season in the National League. His .746 OPS is also well above the 2024 average.
It will be interesting to see how the Reds utilize Rosario defensively. He came up as a shortstop but has played a mix of second base, shortstop, third base, and right field this season. He could conceivably play any of those but shortstop in Cincinnati, because no one is taking Elly De La Cruz's spot.
However he ends up being used, Rosario will be a welcome addition for a Cincinnati team scrapping and clawing to stay alive. But the obvious question that follows: Is it too little, too late?
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