Reds sign RHP Vance Worley to minor league deal with invite to spring training

The Cincinnati Reds signed RHP Vance Worley, most recently with the Miami Marlins, to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, the team announced on Tuesday.

This past season with the Marlins, Worley started 12 games as he bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen. In the end, he finished up with a 6.91 ERA with a 1.800 WHIP, which, yikes. His 4.90 FIP suggests things could’ve went a little better, but still. Yikes.

That said, he spent 2016 with the Orioles with much better results (3.53 ERA, 1.373 WHIP) in less starts, though the 4.82 FIP may suggest that he is what he’s going to be for the Reds.

Worley’s hovered around a 48% GB rate over the last two seasons, but did give up his greatest hard hit percentage in his career last season. That may suggest that his starting career is over; in 2016, where he spent much more time as a reliever, his hard hit rate was five points lower.

His starting experience, or rather, his ability to start if pressed into the role, is certainly a reason the Reds were interested, considering the two year struggle the team has had finding healthy bodies for a rotation. However, Worley was almost definitely brought in to compete for a regular role in a thin bullpen that consists of only a handful of certainties going into 2018.

Worley will receive $1.5 million in base salary should he make the team out of camp and can opt-out of the deal and become a free agent should he not make the Reds Opening Day roster.

It’s not a flashy signing; none of the Reds moves have been for what seems like a century now as this historically boring off-season rolls along. But, it’s another arm to compete for a role that is a serious need for the 2018 Reds if they hope to be even somewhat competitive going into the new season.

Plus, Vance Worley is a Rec Spec Wearer, which means he might be able to lend a set to Cody Reed should Reed’s fail him again this coming season.