According to MLB.com’s transactions tracker, the Reds have let go of Tony Kemp, who plays both infield and outfield positions.
He initially joined the team on a minor league contract, which included a provision allowing him to opt out if he wasn’t on the main roster by March 23. The Reds announced yesterday that he had been moved back to the minor league camp. It’s uncertain if Kemp utilized this option to terminate his contract, but regardless, he will now return to the open market.
Kemp’s fit with the Reds was always questionable, given their surplus of infielders. Even with Noelvi Marte’s suspension (due to PED), there was no space for Kemp.
Although Kemp struggled in 2023, batting only .209, he showed promise in 2021 with Oakland, hitting .279 over 131 games. Additionally, he has maintained an impressive record of durability, being one of just five players since 2016 to have over 2,000 plate appearances without spending any time on the injured list.
Earlier in the offseason, there were rumors linking him to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays, so it’s possible those teams might revisit their interest.
Alternatively, Kemp could opt to wait for injuries within teams and capitalize on any resulting opportunities.
During spring training with the Reds, Kemp recorded a .333 batting average with one home run and five runs batted in across eight games.
