The Cincinnati Reds are having a bizarre offseason.
That now includes releasing a guy who they signed in November.
To be exact, the signing was official on Nov. 4, and now on Dec. 27, they've designated Keegan Thompson for assignment.
The DFA puts Thompson on waivers, which leaves him available to be claimed by another team. If he passes through, he can remain with the Reds, just not on the 40-man roster.
He had to be cleared off the 40-man to fit the new signing, J.J. Bleday.
You can see why the Reds wanted Bleday. He adds some pop to the batting lineup.
But that it came at the expense of a guy they just signed is pretty brutal.
The #Reds today signed OF JJ Bleday to a one-year Major League contract
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 27, 2025
and designated for assignment RHP Keegan Thompson.
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Thompson has been a good pitcher in his MLB career, which has been spent with the Cubs. He has a 3.64 ERA in the bigs across 104 career appearances.
Because of that level of performance, Thompson seems a candidate to get claimed off waivers by another team.
It remains to be seen whether that will happen. But after his early signing made him seem like a priority for the Reds, it doesn't quite seem that way anymore.
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