Michael Lorenzen has opened the door for Cody Reed to earn a spot in the Cincinnati Reds‘ rotation.
Lorenzen experienced elbow soreness last week but was expected to return Thursday. Now, Lorenzen is scheduled for an MRI instead. His readiness to the start the season will remain problematic going forward.
The pitching star so far of the Reds’ spring training camp has been the left-handed power pitcher Reed. He has surrendered just one earned run and allowed opponents to hit just .167 in eight innings this spring. Reed has struck out seven and walked none.
Reed has yet to pitch at the Triple-A level. He could use the experience there, but the loss of Lorenzen further complicates the Reds’ rotation plan to start the season. The Reds are already expected to start the season without two other starters in John Lamb and Homer Bailey.
Reds’ manager Bryan Price knows that Reed is on a rapid ascent to the majors. What Price doesn’t know yet is when the Reds’ front office will give the clearance for Reed to join the big club.
The Reds know they might have struck gold in the trade of former ace Johnny Cueto by acquiring Reed. The team has to decide if bringing a potential $20-million-per-year starting pitcher like Reed in now is worth doing so when the team is unlikely to contend in 2016.
Once the service time clock starts for Reed it’s only a matter of time before he becomes too expensive for the Reds to keep past the six years of club control. Promoting Reed at the outset of this season would also put Reed in the category of Super Two arbitration status, which would cost the Reds even more earlier than the small-market team would like.
Despite the financial costs, the Reds might feel like the best choice would be to throw Reed into the mix right away.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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