Omar

Cruz

Reynolds didn’t do much to establish himself last season, posting a 5.33 ERA in 27 innings, and that he’s now out of options makes him less useful as relief depth. Cruz would probably be a nice swingman if he had better command, but it just doesn’t seem to be coming.

Cruz was only with the Padres for two days in his latest stint. The 26-year-old returns to the minors with Kyle Hart called up for a start Wednesday against the Marlins.

Cruz has been summoned to fortify San Diego’s bullpen ahead of Sunday’s game against Atlanta. The 26-year-old lefty has made two relief appearances this season in the majors.

Cruz earned the final spot in the Padres bullpen to open the season, but is headed back to the minors with the need for a fresh arm in the bullpen. He had a 4.91 ERA in 3 2/3 innings for San Diego this year.

Cruz was optioned to the minors earlier this month, but winds up getting the final spot on San Diego’s season-opening roster. He’ll operate in middle relief for the Padres.

Cosgrove is the notable inclusion among the latest round of Padres cuts after making 72 relief appearances in the big leagues over the past two seasons.

The trio are now shielded from selection in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. Baez is the most notable member of this group as he checks in as MLB Pipeline’s seventh-ranked prospect in San Diego’s system. The 22-year-old righty finished last year with a respectable 2.99 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109/40 K/BB ratio across 126 1/3 innings (26 starts) between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.

Cruz, 21, posted a 2.73 ERA and 76/19 K/BB ratio in 56 innings over 12 starts between Low-A Tri City and Class A Fort Wayne in 2019. He has a chance to make it as a back-end starter in the majors.