Cincinnati Reds claim IF Max Schrock, add RHP Braden Shipley on minor league deal

With pitchers and catchers set to report to camp in Goodyear, Arizona in roughly a week and Spring Training on the docket shortly thereafter, MLB clubs are doing their best to make as many last-minute additions as possible. The Cincinnati Reds, who didn’t do a lot of first-minute additions beforehand, are no different.

Wednesday saw them make a pair of additions with big league experience. First, it was the addition of RHP Braden Shipley on a minor league deal with an invite to camp, as the team announced on Twitter.

Shipley, a former 1st round pick by Arizona from the 2013 MLB Draft, was thrice a consensus Top 100 overall prospect in his days in the minors, but has stumbled to a 5.49 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in an even 100 IP at the big league level across three years. Predominantly a three-pitch pitcher who leans on a curveball and changeup alongside his mid-90s fastball, he has bounced between starting and relieving throughout his pro career, and with an option remaining could end up a good depth piece for the Reds (if he makes the roster).

On the roster at this very moment, though, is IF Max Schrock, who was claimed by the Reds later on Wednesday.

Schrock, 26, made his big league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2020 season, logging 17 PA in limited action. You’ll notice that the Reds announcement lists him being claimed from the Chicago Cubs, however, and that’s because Schrock has now been waived/claimed twice since the end of the 2020 season. New franchises are nothing new to the versatile infielder, however, as he was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals back in 2015 before being traded initially to Oakland and later to St. Louis.

It’s certainly no guarantee he’ll stick on the now-full 40-man roster, but if he does, he provides versatility defensively (and also has minor league options remaining to stash, too).