Luis Cessa, bumped from Cincinnati Reds rotation, designated for assignment

Luis Cessa had his turn skipped in the starting rotation last week and now he’s no longer a part of the Cincinnati Reds organization.

Cessa was designated for assignment before Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Mets in a series of pregame roster moves. Reiver Sanmartin was placed on the 15-day injured list with a stress reaction in his left elbow, and the Reds called up Triple-A pitchers Ben Lively and Kevin Herget.

The Reds still owe Cessa the prorated amount of his $2.65 million salary if he’s not claimed off waivers or traded. The Reds have a week to place him on waivers, trade him or release him. Cessa, who had a 9.00 ERA in 26 innings, was eligible to become a free agent at the end of this season.

“I would imagine he will end up somewhere else but for us, it was just more about making a change and looking to make any improvement we can,” Reds Manager David Bell said Tuesday. “You saw the guys we added and we’re hoping they can help us win. They’re both pitching well. Ben Lively, in particular, has been pitching even better this year than he was last year in Triple-A.”

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Cessa, a 31-year-old righty, was primarily a reliever throughout his major league career before he transitioned to the rotation at the end of last season when the Reds were short on starters. He earned one of the rotation spots in spring training this year, leaving Mexico in the World Baseball Classic semifinal to return to camp, but he allowed 46 hits and a league-high 26 earned runs in six starts.

The Reds initially planned to move Cessa into the bullpen, skipping his spot in the rotation with Monday’s off day, but they decided to cut ties Tuesday. Cessa made one relief appearance, pitching in the eighth inning in Sunday’s 17-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

“He’s shown he can pitch at this level. He’s had success. We just believe for our team, for everything that goes into that, that this was the right decision for our team,” Bell said of Cessa. “They’re really tough decisions. I’m confident we made the right decision but you’re definitely giving something up when you make a tough decision like that.”

The Reds haven’t announced a fifth starter to use for Thursday's game against the Mets – Nick Lodolo's next start was pushed back two days because he's dealing with a sore left calf – but Lively appears to be the top option. Lively hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2019, but he’s been their most productive starter at Triple-A with a 2.33 ERA in five outings.

“We’re going to hold off and see exactly where we are,” Bell said. “Ben was scheduled to start the (Triple-A) game (Tuesday), so he is fully built up and ready.”

Reiver Sanmartin out for a couple of months

Sanmartin avoided a worst-case scenario when he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left elbow, but he may not return to the Reds’ bullpen before July. He won’t throw at all for the next four to six weeks before he’s reevaluated, Bell said.

“Stress reaction, that’s significant enough,” Bell said, “but when you hear only 4-6 weeks of no throw, that is good news.”

The Reds will operate with only one lefthanded pitcher in their bullpen, Alex Young. The Reds have used Ian Gibaut against stretches of lefty batters this year, too.

Hunter Strickland released

The Reds released reliever Hunter Strickland from their Triple-A roster Tuesday. The 34-year-old allowed 14 runs in 11 innings (11.45 ERA), yielding with 13 hits, 12 walks and two homers while recording only eight strikeouts.

Strickland led the Reds with 66 relief appearances last season, posting a 4.91 ERA with seven saves, but he didn’t make the team out of spring training and remained in the organization on a minor league contract.

Reds claim a White Sox reliever off waivers

The Reds claimed righthanded reliever Frank German off waivers Monday from the White Sox and sent him to Triple-A.

German, listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, permitted 19 hits and nine runs in 11 1/3 innings (7.15 ERA) for Chicago's Triple-A affiliate with 16 strikeouts and nine walks before he was designated for assignment last week. He made five relief appearances for the Boston Red Sox last year and was traded to the White Sox in the offseason.