Former Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Amed Rosario and Brandon Leibrandt were designated for assignment by the Reds to make room for the return of Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Matt McLain from the 60-day injured list, as reported by Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Rosario is now a free agent this winter but hit the market a few days earlier since he was designated for assignment on Monday.
Both infielders, currently on rehab assignments in the Arizona Fall League, required roster spots as their maximum rehab period concluded.
Of the two players removed from the roster, Rosario was likely to be off it soon regardless.
He originally signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays for 2024, later moved to the Dodgers, and then was picked up by the Reds via waivers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers intended to bolster their injury-plagued roster by acquiring Amed Rosario from the Tampa Bay Rays in late July. He was the second super-utility player in just a few hours after the Dodgers completed a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox, bringing in Tommy Edman along with reliever Michael Kopech.
In exchange for Rosario, the Dodgers sent 27-year-old minor league pitcher Michael Flynn to the Rays. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, left-hander Ryan Yarbrough was designated for assignment.
Rosario drew the short straws when Mookie Betts returned from a fractured hand. His path to playing time was limited also because of the returns of Maxy Muncy and Edman.
“You’re cutting ties with a really good ballplayer that’s versatile. But just the guys we have coming back, it shows the talent in the room now and coming. I really like Amed a lot. It’s a tough decision, it really is.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters at the time. “With our lineup construction, I just didn’t see a lot of runway for him, when we have guys coming back.”
During his time with the Dodgers, Rosario played in five of the nine games he was active for, making two starts at second base and one at shortstop. He recorded three hits in 11 at-bats, which included a double, a walk, a stolen base, two RBIs, and one run scored.
Photo Credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
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