Mills elected to become a free agent Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Mills made only one appearance in the majors this season and struggled to a 6.58 ERA and 16:16 K:BB across 26 innings with the Triple-A affiliate of the Reds in Louisville. The 31-year-old right-hander holds a career 5.00 big-league ERA.
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Reds' Alec Mills: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Mills was outrighted Tuesday to Triple-A Louisville, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Mills passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment by the Reds on Sunday. He is off the 40-man roster but will remain part of the organization for now.
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Reds' Alec Mills: Cast off 40-man roster
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The Reds designated Mills for assignment Sunday.
Mills will move off both the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster after he was roughed up Saturday in his Reds debut. While working in long relief during the Reds' 12-5 loss to the Padres, Mills recorded three outs and allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk. The Reds recalled outfielder Stuart Fairchild from Triple-A Louisville to replace Mills on the active roster.
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Reds' Alec Mills: Debuts out of bullpen
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Mills allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk over one inning in Saturday's 12-5 loss to the Padres.
Mills made his Cincinnati debut after his contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville last Tuesday. A one-time starter and long reliever, most recently with the Cubs, Mills was brought in as a reliever with potential to be a spot starter for a staff that currently has four healthy arms. He needed 40 pitches Saturday, which may preclude him from being used as a traditional starter for Tuesday's game in Washington, the next time the Reds need a fifth starter.
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Reds' Alec Mills: Selected from Louisville
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The Reds selected Mills' contract from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Mills signed a minor-league deal with Cincinnati in May and will now be called upon to provide depth to the Reds' heavily injured pitching staff. The 31-year-old righty has made two appearances in Triple-A, allowing three earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out just one batter through six innings. Though Mills will likely work out of the bullpen initially, the Reds recently optioned Levi Stoudt to Triple-A and could have an opening in the rotation the next time the club requires a fifth starter July 4 in Washington.
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Reds' Alec Mills: Inks minors deal with Cincinnati
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Mills signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Reds, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The organization's MLB-ready pitching depth has been ravaged by injuries, so Mills will get a look with an assignment first to Triple-A Louisville. He failed to attract much interest over the winter after struggling to a 9.68 ERA in 17.2 major-league innings (two starts, five relief appearances) last season with the Cubs.
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Alec Mills: Enters free agency
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Mills (back) became a free agent Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Mills finished 2022 on the Cubs' 60-day injured list and was removed from the 40-man roster Thursday. He underwent surgery to remove part of a disc in his back September and was limited to seven major-league appearances.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Mills (back) was activated from the 60-day injured list, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Mills covered only 17.2 innings last season as he dealt with back and quadriceps issues. The right-hander won't begin the offseason on Chicago's 40-man roster, so he'll have some work to do in spring training in order to have a chance of making the Opening Day roster.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Undergoes surgery
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Mills underwent a procedure to remove part of a disc in his back Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Mills has been dealing with a lower-back strain since early July and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in late August. The right-hander's procedure was successful, but it seems likely that he'll be held out for the remainder of the season, especially since the Cubs aren't in postseason contention.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Shifts to 60-day injured list
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Mills (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The move should have no impact on Mills' return date, as he's been out with a lower-back strain since early July. He'll be eligible to return within a week but seems unlikely to do so, as he's yet to embark on a rehab assignment. The move clears space on the 40-man roster for Manuel Rodriguez (elbow) to return from his own trip to the 60-day injured list.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Making progress
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Mills (back) is headed to the Cubs' spring training complex in Arizona "to begin building up," Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
It's unclear exactly what Mills' next step is, but this is the first update on his status since he landed on the injured list in early July. He will have a chance to return to action before the season ends, but it will likely be as a reliever.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Back issue forces trip to IL
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The Cubs placed Mills on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a lower-back strain, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Mills picked up the injury just seven pitches into his start in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Red Sox. Mark Leiter stepped up in long relief and struck out five over 5.1 innings en route to capturing the win, so he could be the most logical candidate to enter the rotation as a replacement for Mills. The Cubs will likely hold Mills out through the All-Star break with the back injury, and he's not expected to return to the rotation once activated. Chicago should get at least one of its other injured starters (Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley and Drew Smyly) back before Mills is ready to go.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Leaves with back pain
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Mills left Saturday's game against the Red Sox with lower-back pain, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Just seven pitches into his start Saturday, Mills hunched over in pain and ultimately left the field. The Cubs later provided specifics, although it's uncertain whether Mills is in danger of missing additional time. Mark Leiter entered Saturday's game in relief and could step in for a spot start next week if MIlls is unable to go.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Gets another start
Rotowire
Mills will start Saturday's home game against the Red Sox.
Mills replaced Matt Swarmer in the rotation last weekend in St. Louis, and like Swarmer before him, the 30-year-old proved vulnerable to the long ball. He served up three home runs en route to taking a loss to the Cardinals, giving up five earned runs on six hits and one walk across 2.2 innings. Mills will get a chance to redeem himself Saturday, but regardless of how he performs against the Red Sox or in any starts that might follow, he'll be at risk of moving back to the bullpen as soon as one of Marcus Stroman (shoulder), Drew Smyly (oblique) or Wade Miley (shoulder) returns from the injured list.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Rocked by home runs
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Mills gave up five earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out one over 2.2 innings in a 6-5 extra-inning win over the Cardinals on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.
Mills made his first start of the year and was pummeled by three home runs, which chased him from the game in the third inning. The 30-year-old low-leverage middle reliever had come into the game with an 8.59 ERA, so expectations were very low. The Cubs managed to claw back and win the game in extra innings, but their chances of winning won't be very good if they have to depend on Mills to start games. Despite a plethora of injuries to Cubs starters Marcus Stroman (shoulder), Drew Smyly (oblique) and Wade Miley (shoulder), Mills will likely return to his role as a bullpen innings-eater after his poor performance.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Starting Sunday
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Mills will start Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
All five of Mills' outings in the big leagues this year have come out of the bullpen, but he'll make his first start of the campaign. The right-hander last pitched Monday in long relief and surrendered five runs over 4.1 innings, so he's fairly well stretched out. He's given up 14 earned runs on 21 hits with a 9:2 K:BB across 14.2 frames this season, so Sunday's outing may only be a spot start.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Gets pounded Monday
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Mills allowed five runs on eight hits across 4.1 innings of relief during Monday's loss to the Pirates. He had no walks and struck out two.
Chicago starter Caleb Kilian allowed seven runs (five earned) across 2.1 innings to take the loss, but Mills didn't fare much better. The veteran righty now has an unsightly 8.59 ERA this season, and he won't have much fantasy value as long as he's out of the rotation and pitching poorly. Mills started 20 games for the Cubs in 2021 but all five of his appearances so far this year have come in relief.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Takes first loss Friday
Rotowire
Mills (0-1) allowed the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning Friday to take the loss against the Yankees. He retired two batters and also allowed a hit and an intentional walk.
With a runner starting the inning on second base, Mills got off to a strong start with two quick outs. The Cubs then decided to intentionally walk Aaron Hicks, but Jose Trevino delivered the winning run on a sharp single to left field. This was just the second appearance of the season for Mills, who was sidelined with a back strain in April. The righty could start games at some point, as he made 31 starts for the Cubs over the past two years, but so far he's worked as a reliever.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Five innings in relief
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Mills allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six in five innings of a 9-3 loss Tuesday in Baltimore. He did not factor into the decision.
Mills entered the game in the fourth inning with the Cubs trailing 7-1 and pitched well in his first appearance of the season. The veteran gave up solo homers in the fifth and sixth inning but otherwise was effective. He will likely appear in relief for the time being but is a candidate to move to the rotation should there be an injury or a demotion.
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Cubs' Alec Mills: Reinstated Tuesday
Rotowire
Mills (back) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Mills recently made four rehab starts and posted a 4.97 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 12.2 innings. He's served mainly as a starter for the Cubs over the last two seasons but will pitch out of the bullpen after being activated from the IL. However, the right-hander will be a top candidate to serve as a spot starter or enter the rotation at some point if needed.
