Yesterday, on Aug. 18, the Cincinnati Reds claimed primary shortstop Amed Rosario from the Los Angeles Dodgers off of waivers. Rosario is hitting .305 between the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays this season and will plug multiple holes for the 60-64 Reds.
Rosario started the year with the Rays and had a great first half of the season, playing shortstop, second base, third base, and outfield. Rosario was shipped off to the Dodgers at this year’s deadline as the Rays became sellers. The plan was for him to be a utility bat in Los Angeles, as the Dodgers were missing Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Miguel Rojas in the infield.
However, Rosario only played five games for the Dodgers before being designated for assignment on Aug. 12. He was designated to clear a roster spot for Mookie Betts. Also, he did not have a clear role in the lineup due to the amount of talent the Dodgers had available.
Now, Rosario winds up in Cincinnati. He’ll look to provide solid offense to a Reds team without infielder Matt McLain and other key contributors. His versatility and season pedigree will most likely give him everyday playing time in either the infield or the outfield.
The Reds are 60-64, only six games back from the last National League wild card spot. They’ve been dealing with injuries lately, but the addition of Rosario’s veteran leadership and production could prove a major acquisition that will improve the remainder of their season.
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Amed Rosario #27 of Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
