Reds trade for RHP Shafer, claim OF Martini
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CINCINNATI -- In a multitude of transactions made on Monday, the Reds acquired right-handed pitcher Justin Shafer from the Blue Jays in a trade for cash. In a separate move, Cincinnati claimed outfielder Nick Martini off waivers from San Diego.
To make room on the 40-man roster, outfielder Brian O'Grady and reliever Jimmy Herget were designated for assignment. Cincinnati’s 40-man roster remains full.
When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.
Shafer, a 27-year-old reliever, went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP over 34 big league appearances for Toronto in 2019. In his 39 2/3 innings, he allowed 41 hits and 25 walks with 39 strikeouts. The Blue Jays DFA'd him last week.
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Martini, designated for assignment by San Diego last week, played 32 big league games in 2019 -- six with the A’s and 26 for the Padres. The 29-year-old outfielder batted a combined .226/.330/.323 with one home run and seven RBIs. For Triple-A Las Vegas, he slashed .328/.432/.482 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 70 games.
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O’Grady, 27, made his Major League debut on Aug. 8 with the Reds and batted .190 with two homers after he slugged 28 home runs for Triple-A Louisville. Herget, 26, posted a 4.26 ERA over five relief appearances in the Majors and went 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 48 games for Louisville.