The Cincinnati Reds designated outfielder Jake Fraley for assignment prior to Sunday’s game against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Cincinnati recalled outfielder Will Benson from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
Fraley, 30, was batting .232 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 67 games this season.
Fraley hyperextended a knee during Saturday’s game against the Brewers but was cleared medically Sunday prior to the transaction.
Fraley was in his fourth season with the Reds. He batted .260 with 38 homers and 142 RBIs in 362 games with Cincinnati.
“I don’t really think there’s ever an easy one, regardless of how guys are, because you’re making decisions that alter their lives, and it’s a big deal and we take it that way,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “Not that I need an excuse to lose sleep last night, but you do think about it the whole time. I think the day when I stop thinking about it, I’ll re-retire.”
Overall, Fraley has a .247 career average with 47 homers and 179 RBIs in 459 big league games with the Seattle Mariners (2019-21) and Reds.
Benson, 27, is batting .224 with nine homers and 32 RBIs in 61 games with Cincinnati this season. He has 34 homers, 106 RBIs and a .226 average in 325 games over the past three seasons with the Reds.
Cincinnati also recalled right-hander Connor Phillips from Triple-A Louisville and optioned left-hander Joe La Sorsa to the same affiliate.
Phillips, 24, was 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in four relief appearances for the Reds earlier this season. La Sorsa, 27, is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in five appearances for Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
