Addison

Reed

Reed was designated for assignment by the Twins last week and passed through waivers unclaimed because he’s still owed about $7 million on the two-year, $16.75 million free agent deal he signed with Minnesota in January 2018. The 30-year-old right-hander posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 56 appearances last season and had allowed eight earned runs over just five innings this season in the minors.

This is quite a surprise, given that the Twins are paying Reed an $8.5 million salary for the 2019 season. But the right-hander had surrendered eight earned runs over just five innings on his minor league rehab assignment -- he’s been out all year with a thumb sprain -- and he struggled to a 4.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 56 appearances with Minnesota last year.

Reed has now surrendered six earned runs in just four minor league innings. The 30-year-old right-hander will probably be kept on the farm until he starts posting better results. He’s missed the first seven weeks of the season with a sprained thumb and struggled to a 4.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 56 innings with the Twins in 2018.

Reed issued a walk to the first batter he faced but went on to induce two pop-outs and tally one strikeout. The 30-year-old setup man has been on the injured list since the end of spring training with a thumb sprain, so he’s probably going to need several rehab outings before the Twins consider adding him to their bullpen.

Twins general manager Thad Levine said the team doesn’t have a set number of rehab appearances in mind for Reed, adding that “we’ll kind of know when he’s ready to go and we’ll act accordingly.” The reliever has been out all season with a sprained left thumb.

Reed has been out since March 14 with the thumb sprain. He’s expected to start throwing soon in extended spring training, and should operate as a set-up man when he’s ready to go. When that’ll be is uncertain, however.

Reed has been dealing with a sore left thumb that’s resulted in him being shut down for almost two weeks. He will stay back in extended spring training to begin a throwing program.

Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey was non-committal when asked whether Reed would be available for the start of the 2019 regular season. This injury could open the door for both Trevor Hildenberger and Fernando Romero to make the Opening Day roster.

Reed has allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings this spring. He’s one of the candidates for saves in Minnesota’s pen, and he might have been the favorite had he shaken off his bad 2018 and returned to previous form. Early indications are that that’s not happening, though.

Reed will head to Canton, Ohio to attend the birth of his child on Thursday, and then be placed on the list ahead of the contests with Oakland. He then likely will return on September 25 when the Twins begin their series with the Tigers.