The Reds have picked up infielder Liván Soto from the Orioles via waivers, as confirmed by both teams. Soto had been designated for assignment by the Orioles just before this move.
In response, the Reds placed Tejay Antone on the 60-day injured list and sent Soto down to Triple-A Louisville. Meanwhile, the Orioles announced that catcher David Bañuelos, who had also been designated for assignment recently, has passed through waivers and will join Triple-A Norfolk.
Turning 24 in June, Soto has been frequently shuffled between teams this year. He started the season with the Angels, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in February, reclaimed by the Angels soon after, and then claimed again by the Orioles last week. However, a sudden case of elbow inflammation in pitcher Tyler Wells earlier this week pressured the Orioles to make a quick roster change. They needed to add Bañuelos, who was readily available from the taxi squad, leading them to remove Soto from the roster once more.
He remains attractive to teams due to his speed and ability to play multiple defensive positions. In the minor leagues, he has accumulated a good number of stolen bases and has played every infield position except first base, with a brief stint in the outfield as well.
At the plate, he’s posted a .375/.414/.531 slash line over 71 major league at-bats, albeit in a very limited sample size. His performance in the minors over a larger span hasn’t matched this, with a batting average of .246, an on-base percentage of .340, and a slugging percentage of .355, resulting in a wRC+ of 86 across 1,505 plate appearances since 2021. However, his defensive skills and base-running capabilities are still seen as valuable assets, especially as he has two minor league options remaining, which means he doesn’t need to occupy a spot on the active roster immediately.
The Reds entered this season with an abundance of infield talent. Spencer Steer and Jonathan India were initially considered for outfield positions or flexible infield roles due to this surplus. However, unforeseen circumstances such as Noelvi Marté’s 80-game suspension for PEDs and Matt McLain’s shoulder surgery have reduced their infield options. The acquisition of Santiago Espinal added some depth, and now Soto provides even more.
The opportunity to add Soto became feasible when Tejay Antone was slated for season-ending surgery last week, necessitating his move to the 60-day injured list, which freed up a roster spot.
Regarding Bañuelos, he was quickly brought up from the taxi squad due to a roster vacancy and made his major league debut, batting for Colton Cowser and flying out. Despite being designated for assignment shortly thereafter, he described his debut as one of the best moments of his life. Having cleared waivers, he will now continue in his role off the roster, giving the Orioles depth in their catching ranks.
