The Reds are about to get one bullpen arm back, and another injury situation could finally get some clarity this weekend.
Tony Santillan is expected to come off the injured list on Friday, according to Charlie Goldsmith. The right-hander has been sidelined since June 26 with an oblique strain, landing on the 15-day injured list.
That return matters for a Cincinnati bullpen that has had to patch things together. Earlier this season, when the Reds surged out to a 20-11 start, Santillan was part of the group handling the biggest innings along with Ashcraft and Pagan.
More recently, with Ashcraft and Santillan both out, the Reds have leaned on Tejay Antone and Luis Mey in those spots. Antone and Mey have done their part, but the Reds still need more depth, and Santillan gives them that.
There’s also a major update coming for Spencer Steer. Goldsmith reported that Steer is set for a follow-up appointment this weekend to determine the next step for his right-wrist sprain. He has been on the injured list since late July and is hoping to avoid surgery.
The reasoning for delaying surgery is straightforward: Steer wants back on the field as soon as possible. Going under the knife immediately would have ended his season, while waiting at least left open the chance of returning this year.
This weekend should tell the Reds whether that gamble paid off or whether surgery is still on the table. Either way, the expectation is that it won’t affect his availability for the 2027 season, and he should be ready when that year begins, assuming the CBA negotiations don’t change the start of the season.
The Reds also made a couple of pitching moves on Wednesday. They signed 28-year-old right-hander Darius Vines to a minor league deal after he spent this season in the Mexican League. Vines put up a 3.32 ERA in 15 games and has some major league experience, including two starts for the Braves in 2024.
On the other side of the roster shuffle, Ron Marinaccio chose free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville.
In Other News...
Reds Bullpen Churn Continues As Another New Arm Already Disappears
The Reds bullpen shuffle keeps rolling, and one of the newer additions is already out of the picture. Cincinnati brought in former Padres right-hander Ron Marinaccio to help stabilize the relief mix, but his time with the club was brief, as he was designated for assignment after only a handful of outings. It was the kind of quick turnaround that has become familiar for a pen that has seen a steady churn of arms trying to find a foothold.
Marinaccios departure leaves the Reds back at square one in that spot, with the roster spot opening as quickly as it was filled. Former Padres pitcher Matt Waldron is in a similar position with Toronto after being designated for assignment following four appearances, a reminder of how fragile these bullpen stops can be. For Cincinnati, the larger issue is not just losing a reliever, but doing so before there was any real chance to see whether the fit could last. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Brantley Just Fired Up The Sal Stewart Rookie Debate
The National League Rookie of the Year conversation has become one of the more interesting late-season debates for the Reds, and Sal Stewart has put himself right in the middle of it. Cincinnatis rookie has been compared constantly with Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt, with the argument splitting along familiar lines: Stewarts bat versus Wetherholts work on the other side of the ball. It is the kind of race that invites strong opinions, especially when one of the voices weighing in happens to be on the Reds broadcast.
Jeff Brantley made his stance clear during a recent game broadcast, favoring Stewarts offensive production over Wetherholts defensive profile and adding another layer to a discussion that already has Reds fans talking. The debate has only grown louder as the season has gone on, with commentators and viewers trying to figure out whether the award should reward the more complete overall player or the one bringing the bigger impact at the plate. [Read more 🡒]
TJ Friedl Has Become A Real Reds Offseason Problem
TJ Friedl entered the 2026 season as one of the more established pieces in Cincinnatis outfield, but the year has gone sideways in a hurry. After a far more productive 2025, his bat has backed up sharply, with less contact and far less pop than the Reds expected from him, and the club already tried sending him to Triple-A Louisville in an effort to help him find something closer to his old form.
Instead, the situation has only deepened the Reds winter dilemma. Friedl is no longer a simple lineup puzzle, because the organization has younger outfielders pushing for chances and more flexibility if it decides to move on from him, which means his place on the roster is suddenly tied to a much bigger offseason decision than anyone would have imagined a year ago. [Read more 🡒]