Edwin

Rios

The 30-year-old slugger mashed at Triple-A Louisville for the Reds in 2024 — slashing .286/.385/.547 with 22 homers, 70 RBI and a 117/56 K/BB ratio over 421 plate appearances in only 99 games. He’ll add solid depth for the Reds, but given how crowded their infield mix looks already, it’s going to take a couple of injuries for him to get a legitimate shot at regular playing time in the big leagues.

Ríos is back in the fold with Cincinnati on a new deal as emergency infield depth shortly after electing free agency. The 30-year-old went 1-for-9 in five games with the Reds earlier this month before being designated for assignment.

Ríos went unclaimed on waivers after being removed from Cincinnati’s 40-man roster earlier this week and will test the free agent waters rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville. The 30-year-old corner infielder went 1-for-9 with four strikeouts in five games for the Reds earlier this month.

Ríos didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself with the Reds this year. He went 1-for-9 (.111) with a walk in five games. He’s been solid at Triple-A Louisville this season, batting .243 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 50 games.

With Jake Fraley heading to the family emergency medical list, Rios will get his first chance to show the Reds what he can do at the big-league level. The 30-year-old slugger has hit .243/.340/.486 with 11 homers and 27 RBI in 50 games at Triple-A Louisville this season.

Ríos latched on with the Reds back in February and is back with the organization on a new minor league pact. The 30-year-old corner infielder has batted .205/.292/.465 with 21 homers in 325 plate appearances over 130 games in the majors since 2019. The 30-year-old represents extra organizational depth for Cincinnati.

Ríos was a highly-regarded power-hitting prospect a few seasons ago with the Dodgers when it looked like he might blossom into a viable righty-mashing platoon corner infield option. Both injuries and ineffectiveness at the dish have derailed him the last few years as he went 2-for-28 with one homer in 18 games this season for the Cubs before being removed from the organization’s 40-man roster back in late July. At 29 years old, there’s still a chance a club is willing to give him a shot in spring training to secure a bench role.

Ríos has been in the minors since mid-June, but has now been officially removed from Chicago’s 40-man roster after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 29-year-old slugger has just two hits in 28 at-bats over 18 games this season in the big leagues.

Ríos provides the Cubs with a pinch-hitting option for the opening contest of the London Series. The 29-year-old slugger is just 2-for-28 across 18 games this season in the majors.

Ríos landed on the injured list in early June with a left groin strain but began a rehab assignment on June 14. He’ll head to Triple-A and could return to Wrigley Field sometime this summer.