Cessa signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Cessa spent the first portion of the season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, posting a 3.89 ERA and 1.53 WHIP through 39.1 innings across 11 appearances (10 starts) before being released June 1. The 32-year-old righty will report to Triple-A Indianapolis upon joining the Pirates organization, and minor-league success could warrant a return to the majors if a spot opens up in Pittsburgh's pitching staff.
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Royals' Luis Cessa: Signs minors deal with Royals
Rotowire
Cessa signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Saturday.
Cessa appeared in seven games at the major-league level with the Reds early last season, posting a hefty 9.00 ERA and 2.23 WHIP over 26 innings. He also spent time with the Rockies' and Nationals' Triple-A affiliates, but he was released after putting up similar numbers. Cessa will now get another chance with the Royals, but he will likely have to prove himself in the minors before potentially returning to the big leagues.
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Luis Cessa: Cut loose by Nationals
Rotowire
Cessa was released by the Nationals on Tuesday.
Cessa inked a minor-league deal with the Nats in early July but posted an 8.71 ERA over 16 appearances with Triple-A Rochester. He'll now look to latch on in another organization.
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Nationals' Luis Cessa: Joins Nationals
Rotowire
Cessa has signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals, per the team's transaction log.
Cessa began the season in the Reds rotation and was crushed to the tune of a 9.00 ERA and 2.23 WHIP before being cut loose. He'll join his second team since and could make his way to the big leagues as a spot starter or long reliever.
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Luis Cessa: Cut loose by Rockies
Rotowire
Cessa was released by the Rockies on Thursday.
Cessa inked a minor-league pact with the Rockies last month after being cut loose by the Reds but held an 8.44 ERA across six starts with Triple-A Albuquerque before getting his walking papers. The right-hander will now seek another deal elsewhere.
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Rockies' Luis Cessa: Joining Colorado
Rotowire
Cessa agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Cessa was let go by the Reds earlier this month but will now receive a chance with the Rockies. The right-hander had a 9.00 ERA, 2.23 WHIP and 11:12 K:BB across 26 innings before being cut loose by Cincinnati, and he'll likely need to pitch better for Triple-A Albuquerque in order for Colorado to consider giving him another big-league opportunity.
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Luis Cessa: Parts ways with Cincinnati
Rotowire
Cessa was released by the Reds on Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 31-year-old was designated for assignment last week and won't stick around the organization. Cessa had a horrible start to the campaign with a 9.00 ERA, 2.23 WHIP and 11:12 K:BB across 26 innings prior to being dumped from the 40-man roster.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Reds designated Cessa for assignment Tuesday.
Cessa lost his rotation spot last week and has now also been removed from the 40-man roster. He had been lit up for 26 earned runs in 26 innings this season with Cincinnati. Ben Lively has been called up in a corresponding move and will presumably jump into the Reds' rotation this week.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: To be skipped on next turn
Rotowire
Cessa will be skipped on his next turn in the Reds' rotation, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Using a couple of recent off days to their advantage, the Reds will deploy their four best rotation options -- Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft and Luke Weaver -- next time through. Cessa stands 1-4 with a 9.36 ERA, 2.20 WHIP and 11:12 K:BB through 25 innings (six starts) this season.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Struggles against Padres
Rotowire
Cessa (1-4) took the loss Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over 3.1 innings in a 7-1 loss to San Diego. He struck out two.
Cessa failed to make it out of the fourth inning Wednesday. He'd eventually be charged with three runs while taking his fourth loss in his last five starts. While Cessa figures to remain in the rotation while Connor Overton (elbow) is out, he doesn't offer much from a fantasy perspective. Cessa's ERA is up to 9.36 with a 2.20 WHIP and 11:12 K:BB through 25 innings this season.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Registers first win of season
Rotowire
Cessa (1-3) earned the win Friday, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk over five innings in a 11-7 victory over the Athletics. He struck out two.
Cessa turned in a decent start against the last-place Athletics, but he still has a long way to go before becoming a reliable option in fantasy. The right-hander hasn't lasted longer than 5.1 frames in a start this year and currently has a 9.55 ERA. The veteran is tentatively slated to face the Padres on the road in his next start.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Takes third loss of season
Rotowire
Cessa (0-3) took the loss Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits over 4.2 innings against the Pirates. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Cessa had a much improved outing after giving up 16 runs across his previous 6.2 innings pitched. The right-hander got unlucky with Cincinnati's lack of run support, but he also needs to pitch deeper into games. He has not yet completed the sixth inning this year, which will not be good enough in the long run. The 30-year-old still has plenty of time left to improve, but his poor pitching should be concerning for fantasy managers.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Gives up nine runs in first inning
Rotowire
Cessa (0-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing 11 runs on 14 hits and three walks in three innings during a 14-3 loss to the Phillies.
Cessa served up a leadoff homer to Bryson Stott in the first and proceed to get knocked around for eight more runs before finally getting out of the inning. After a scoreless second, the right-hander allowed another run in the third and wasn't able to record an out in the fourth before getting pulled in favor of Fernando Cruz. Cessa's ERA currently sits at 13.50, and he has more walks (eight) than strikeouts (three) through three outings (12 innings).
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Gives up five in loss
Rotowire
Cessa (0-1) took the loss to Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out one.
After a promising season debut, Cessa struggled against the powerful bats in the Atlanta lineup. The 30-year-old allowed a solo homer to Matt Olson in the first inning and a two-run shot to Ozzie Albies in the fourth before losing the lead on an RBI double by Sam Hilliard. Despite this performance, Cessa will remain the fifth man in the Reds' starting rotation and try to improve his 7.00 ERA in his next outing, tentatively scheduled for this weekend against the Phillies.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Allows two runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Cessa did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over 5.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out two.
The bullpen imploded behind Cessa, allowing eight runs to turn this one into a laugher. Cessa did his job -- he had a lead when he exited the game -- though his fastball looked entirely too hittable at times. The Reds like Cessa more in the rotation, so he will remain there until injury or poor performance dictate otherwise. Cessa pitched primarily out of the bullpen last season, making 36 relief appearances compared to 10 starts.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Fires five scoreless
Rotowire
Cessa fired five scoreless innings Wednesday during an exhibition game in Cincinnati.
Cessa allowed just one hit in the exhibition. There were worries that after his lack of use in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico might limit his innings, but it's encouraging to see him go five in the exhibition bout. He's projected to make his 2023 debut on Tuesday against the Cubs.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Beginning as fifth starter
Rotowire
Cessa will begin the season as the Reds' fifth starter, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Cessa is still trying to ramp up as a starter, so it makes sense that he'll take the Reds last spot in the rotation for now, behind Connor Overton. Cessa posted a 4.57 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 80.2 innings as a swingman for Cincy in 2022.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Starting Sunday after leaving WBC
Rotowire
Cessa is starting Sunday's Cactus League game against the Brewers after leaving Team Mexico before the semifinal of the World Baseball Classic, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic of The Athletic.
Cessa threw only two innings with Team Mexico during the WBC, and the right-hander will now hope to get stretched out before the start of the regular season. If Cessa pitches well, he has a chance to open the season in the rotation, and if not he could be a multi-inning reliever to begin the year.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Has inside track for rotation spot
Rotowire
Cessa "seemingly has the inside track" to win a spot in the Reds' rotation, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
He and Luke Weaver (forearm) have been the favorites to capture the final two rotation spots, although Weaver's injury could give Brandon Williamson, Chase Anderson or Connor Overton an opening. Cessa has split time between starting and relieving in his career, but he pitched pretty well down the stretch in 2022 with a 3.65 ERA in his final seven starts. He doesn't offer much swing-and-miss but has proven adept at inducing groundballs.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Cessa signed a one-year, $2.65 million contract with the Reds on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
After logging a 2.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP season in 2021, Cessa took a considerable step back during his first full season with the Reds. The 30-year-old reliever turned in a 4.57 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 80.2 frames while also missing nearly a month due to back problems. Cessa failed to strike batters out at a particularly high rate and struggled with walks quite a bit. If these issues continue, high-leverage opportunities may be hard to come by next season.
