Reds decline Schumaker, Badenhop options
CINCINNATI -- The Reds declined to exercise the 2016 options for outfielder/infielder Skip Schumaker and reliever Burke Badenhop on Monday, the first day they could make those moves following the completion of the World Series.
Cincinnati also sent reliever Sam LeCure outright to Triple-A Louisville, removing him from the 40-man roster.
Pitcher Homer Bailey, catcher Devin Mesoraco, shortstop Zack Cozart and pitcher Jon Moscot were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, which puts the four players back on the 40-man roster.
Schumaker had a $2.5 million club option for 2016 with a $500,000 buyout, while Badenhop had $4 million mutual option for 2016 with a $1.5 million buyout. The two players joined catcher Brayan Pena and lefty relievers Sean Marshall and Manny Parra as free agents.
In the second year of his two-year contract with Cincinnati, the 35-year-old Schumaker batted .242/.306/.336 in 131 games with one home run and 21 RBIs. His 19 pinch-hits led the Majors and were one shy of the club record.
Video: CIN@ARI: Badenhop strikes out Goldschmidt looking
Badenhop, 32, signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract, plus the mutual option, with the Reds as a free agent on Feb. 7. In 68 appearances, he was 2-4 with a 3.93 ERA and stranded 17 of 31 inherited runners.
LeCure, who would have been third-year eligible for salary arbitration, was a surprise roster cut in the final days of Spring Training and spent most of the season at Louisville. Following his Aug. 19 promotion back to the Majors, he had a 3.15 ERA in 19 appearances while stranding eight of his 10 inherited runners.
Monday's transactions left the Reds with 34 players on their 40-man roster.