White Sox's Brandon Finnegan: Heads to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The White Sox reassigned Finnegan to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Though he won't turn 29 years old until April and has 260.2 career MLB innings under his belt, Finnegan doesn't look especially close to earning his way back to the big leagues. The lefty hasn't pitched in the majors since 2018, and he's coming off a rocky campaign in the Reds organization at Triple-A Louisville, where he produced a 5.53 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 55.1 innings. After being developed as a starter, Finnegan appears to be a full-time reliever at this stage of his career, but the role change didn't pay any dividends last year. He joined the White Sox on a minor-league deal over the winter and will hope that the organizational change will help him rediscover the form that once made him an intriguing prospect in the Kansas City system.
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White Sox's Brandon Finnegan: Signs with White Sox
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Finnegan signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Monday that includes an invite to major-league spring training.
Finnegan served as a non-roster invitee for the Reds in 2021 but spent the entire season at Triple-A Louisville. He made 40 appearances (one start) and logged a 5.53 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 55.1 innings. The left-hander hasn't appeared in the majors since 2018 and appears likely to spent most of 2022 in the minors.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Finnegan was reassigned to the Reds' minor-league camp on Friday.
Finnegan had impressed earlier this spring, but he had a really rough outing against the Rockies a week ago and hasn't pitched in a big-league spring training game since last Thursday.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Moves to big-league camp
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Finnegan was officially invited to big-league camp Friday.
The move seems to indicate Finnegan is being considered for a major-league roster spot. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2018, but he's still just 27 years old and his 4.11 career ERA is a perfectly respectable mark. He isn't on the 40-man roster, but the Reds could be compelled to find room for him in the bullpen if Finnegan continues a strong camp that has seen him post a 0.00 ERA and 5:0 K:BB through five innings.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Invited to early minor-league camp
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Finnegan is one of 18 minor leaguers invited to the team's early minor-league camp, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
This is not the same as an NRI to the major-league camp. Barring another transaction, Finnegan won't be able to pitch in big league spring training games. Most of the players on this list, including Hunter Greene, Jonathan India and Nick Lodolo, are minor-league prospects. Finnegan is ticketed for Triple-A to begin the 2021 season.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Added to player pool
Rotowire
Finnegan was added to the Reds' 60-man player pool Friday.
Finnegan wasn't included in the initial group of players and missed out on summer camp, but he'll head to the alternate training site to begin participating in workouts. The 27-year-old hasn't appeared in the majors since 2018, when he had a 7.40 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 14:15 K:BB over 20.2 innings (five starts).
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Working on mechanics
Rotowire
Finnegan hasn't thrown a pitch yet this season and is working with a "third party" to work on his mechanics and strengthening, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
The Reds haven't disclosed which third party is working with the Reds and Finnegan, but Sheldon suggests that it could be someone similar to Driveline Baseball, the same company that Trevor Bauer has worked with often.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Location to be determined
Rotowire
While Finnegan has cleared waivers, the location of his assignment hasn't officially been decided, though it's unlikely to be to Triple-A Louisville, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Finnegan's most likely destination is Double-A Pensacola instead. "We're discussing options," Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams said. "Right now, we don't think he'll go to Triple-A. It's possible he would go to Double-A, maybe in order to work out of a rotation and get more innings in a more conducive environment."
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Finnegan cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Despite some prospect pedigree, no team wanted to take a chance on the 25-year-old lefty, whose 4.11 career ERA in 260.2 innings is not well supported by his 5.13 FIP. He'll fill an organizational depth role for the Reds.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Cast off 40-man
Rotowire
Finnegan has been designated for assignment by the Reds.
The Reds claimed Jose Lopez from the Giants, and it spelled the end of Finnegan's run on the 40-man roster. He was one of the headliners the Reds received from the Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade at the 2015 trade deadline, but never made good on his high pedigree. It would not be surprising to see another team roll the dice on Finnegan.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Gets support of manager
Rotowire
Finnegan threw a perfect first inning in Tuesday's spring training game against the Giants, and afterward manager David Bell said that Finnegan had a place with the Reds, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Bell seemed to assure that Finnegan will make the Opening Day roster, which is a bit of a surprise. Bell said of Finnegan on Tuesday, "He'll have a spot. Our approach is really just to build him up to a point of keeping the options open," Bell said when asked about a potential role for the left-hander. "Two, three, four innings and kind of seeing where we are, seeing how the staff shapes up. Just allowing him to be in a good spot with his workload to where he can slot in and help us at any point in any role."
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Moving to relief role
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Finnegan will transition to a relief role with Triple-A Louisville, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.
Finnegan simply has not been able to find any success as a starter this year -- he owns a 7.40 ERA over five big-league starts and 7.24 ERA over eight starts with Louisville -- so the Reds will see what he can do in relief. Finnegan posted a 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB in 34 innings over 23 relief appearances at the major-league level earlier in his career, so it certainly would not be out of the question for him to find success pitching out of the bullpen.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Optioned to Triple-A
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Finnegan will be optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Friday, John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The move clears room for Matt Harvey to officially join the rotation for his start Friday against the Dodgers. Finnegan was given a vote of confidence regarding his spot in the rotation earlier in the week, but the acquisition of Harvey changed matters. Finnegan's start to the season was rocky as he posted a 7.40 ERA through five starts and lasted a combined 20.2 innings in those appearances. He'll head down to Triple-A for now and figures to be one of the top candidates to be called back up whenever the Reds need a fresh arm next.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Rotation spot not yet at risk
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Finnegan will remain in the rotation for his next start, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Finnegan's performances have hardly merited another turn in the rotation. His ERA sits at 8.27 through five starts and he's walking 14.6 percent of batters while striking out just 13.6 percent. In what is already very clearly a rebuilding season for the Reds, though, the team has little reason not to let Finnegan try to work through his struggles in hopes of him recovering the form which gave him a solid 3.98 ERA in his first full season back in 2016. The 25-year-old battled shoulder issues last season and a biceps strain this spring, so it's possible that poor health has been the primary cause of his early struggles.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Allows five in loss
Rotowire
Finnegan (0-3) allowed five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two across 3.1 innings Sunday as he took the loss against the Marlins.
Finnegan got rocked early and was replaced by Dylan Floro in the fourth inning following a rain delay. He gave up all five runs in the first two frames and exited with a 5-2 deficit. The 25-year-old's early struggles carried over into his fifth start of the season, and he sits with a 8.27 ERA and 2.03 WHIP across 20.2 innings. Finnegan will need to put together a quality outing soon, or he'll be in danger of losing his spot in the starting rotation.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Gives up three runs in no-decision
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Finnegan allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts through five innings in a no-decision Monday against Milwaukee.
Finnegan still hasn't had an appearance longer than five innings in his four starts this season. He also has walked three or more in three of those starts, and those control issues have come back to bite him all three times. Finnegan needed 89 pitches to get through five innings on Monday, and he managed just five swinging strikes. Finnegan just doesn't have the swing-and-miss stuff to get away with putting runners on base. It has shown in the early going, as he now owns a 7.27 ERA with 12 walks in just 17.1 innings.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Takes no-decision against Braves on Wednesday
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Finnegan didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Braves, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk over five innings while striking out four.
The left-hander threw 52 of 77 pitches for strikes, but while his control was good his command within the zone wasn't as sharp, as he gave up a number of hard-hit balls that fortunately found their way into the gloves of Reds defenders. Finnegan will take an 8.03 ERA into his next start Monday at home against the Brewers.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Allows four runs in loss
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Finnegan (0-2) took the loss Friday against the Cardinals, giving up four runs on five hits in three innings while striking out two and walking four.
Finnegan was done in by a couple of RBI doubles and a sacrifice fly, putting the score at 4-0 through two. The walks didn't help Finnegan's cause, and by the end of the third he was already at 76 pitches. Through two starts, the young lefty has allowed nine runs on 11 hits in 7.1 innings. That kind of run allowance just can't fly on a Reds team that isn't scoring very much to start the season (currently the club is tied with Kansas City for last in the majors in runs scored). Next up will be a home start against the Braves.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Takes loss in season debut
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Finnegan (0-1) was charged with the loss Saturday against the Cardinals, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
Home runs really hurt the southpaw in this one, as Greg Garcia got him for a pair of homers in the brief outing. Finnegan worked with baserunners throughout his 2018 debut and struggled with command, as he required 91 pitches to get through the abbreviated start. He'll look to get back on track in his next scheduled start Friday in a rematch with the Cardinals.
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Reds' Brandon Finnegan: Activated ahead of Saturday's start
Rotowire
Finnegan (biceps) was activated from the 10-day disabled list and will start Saturday against the Cardinals, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.
This had long been rumored, despite Cody Reed being listed as Saturday's starter earlier this week. Finnegan struggled with his control Monday, walking five batters in five innings with Triple-A Louisville. The 5-foot-11 lefty has a 3.83 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 216 strikeouts in 240 career innings in the majors. He will oppose Miles Mikolas and the 7-7 Cardinals on his 25th birthday.
