The Reds have signed free agent right-hander Alfredo Simon to a one-year contract, the team announced. Financial terms of the deal are unknown at this time. It figures to have a low base salary and some incentives.
Simon, 34, played in Cincinnati from 2012-14. He started his career as a reliever before moving into the rotation. Simon went 24-16 with a 3.16 ERA (120 ERA+) in 345 total innings with the Reds, and was an All-Star as a starter in 2015.
Last season with the Tigers, Simon went 13-12 with a 5.05 ERA (78 ERA+) in 187 innings. Detroit acquired him from the Reds last offseason in a trade that sent Eugenio Suarez and pitching prospect Jonathan Crawford to Cincinnati.
The Reds are rebuilding and they currently have a very young rotation. In fact, they closed out last season with 64 consecutive starts by rookie pitchers. That is a major league record. Rookies started 110 of 162 games for the Reds in 2015.
Cincinnati's rotation to start the 2016 season figures to look something like this:
- RHP Anthony DeSclafani
- LHP Brandon Finnegan
- RHP Raisel Iglesias
- RHP Jon Moscot
- RHP Alfredo Simon
Homer Bailey (Tommy John surgery) and John Lamb (back surgery) are currently rehabbing and could join the rotation at some point in 2016. Michael Lorenzen recently came down with an elbow issue and is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, so Simon takes his spot.
With the rebuild underway, signing Simon is all about making sure they have enough arms so their young pitchers aren't overworked. And hey, if he pitches well, he could always be trade bait come the deadline.
