Minor (shoulder) had his mutual option declined by the Reds on Tuesday.
The veteran lefty's season didn't go as planned, as he was limited by injuries to 19 starts and struggled to a 6.06 ERA when available. He's now finished with an ERA north of 5.00 for three straight seasons. He's reportedly contemplating retirement, and it could be tough for him to find another big-league deal if he elects to continue his career.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Considering retirement
Rotowire
Minor (shoulder) may retire this winter, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Minor will be 35 years old next season, and while players can certainly play well beyond that age, it would certainly make some sense if he calls it quits. For one, he hasn't recorded an ERA south of 5.00 since 2019. More importantly, pitching in the majors since 2010 has taken a toll on his arm. Shoulder issues cost him two months to start this season and sent him back to the injured list Friday. It may not be worth pushing through the pain next season, in which case the 2009 seventh overall pick would end his career with an 83-90 record and a 4.25 ERA over more than 1,400 big-league innings.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Out with shoulder injury
Rotowire
Minor was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Sept. 20, with left shoulder soreness.
Minor was scheduled to start Friday against Milwaukee but will instead make his way to the injured list. The 34-year-old will be eligible to be activated for the final game of the regular season Oct. 5, but he's more likely to be shut down as the Reds take a look at their younger arms down the stretch. Minor has a 6.06 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 76:40 K:BB across 98 innings this year and has a $13 million mutual option for next year, which Cincinnati is likely to decline.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Rough outing in St. Louis
Rotowire
Minor (4-12) took the loss Saturday, allowing five runs on five hits and five walks over three innings against St. Louis. He struck out one.
Minor surrendered two runs in the first inning and three in the third, capped off by a two-run homer from catcher Yadier Molina with one out. The lefty has allowed seven hits or more in four of his last seven starts and has pitched six innings or more just once. In 10 starts at home this season, the 34-year-old has an 0-8 record with a 6.22 ERA, compared to a 4-4 record and 5.89 ERA over nine road starts.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Handed 11th loss
Rotowire
Minor (4-11) allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings Monday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Pirates.
All the damage against Minor came via the long ball as he served up three home runs in the loss. Five of those runs came during a brutal fifth inning. The 34-year-old lefty had given up just five runs over his previous three starts but he saw his ERA climb to 5.78 and took his first loss since Aug. 15. Minor is lined up to start in St. Louis this weekend.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Minimizes damage in victory
Rotowire
Minor (4-10) earned the win over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one run on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 5.2 innings.
Minor allowed multiple baserunners in four of the six innings in which he pitched, but all 10 hits against him were singles. He constantly escaped trouble, thanks in large part to three double plays turned behind him. Remarkably, he tied his worst mark of the season with the 10 hits while tying his best mark by allowing just one run. Minor started the season at 1-10, but each of his three decisions since has been a victory. He's allowed two runs or fewer in each of his past three starts.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Fails to last five innings
Rotowire
Minor tossed 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals in extra innings. He did not factor into the decision.
Minor fired three scoreless frames to open Wednesday's outing, but Nolan Arenado ripped a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning, accounting for the only blemish on his line. The left-hander left the contest the following inning after Dylan Carlson notched a two-out single. Minor has now put together two solid starts in a row, giving up four runs over 11.2 frames in those outings. The 34-year-old now owns a 5.98 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 67 punchouts over 84.1 innings in 16 starts this year.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Fans seven in win over Nats
Rotowire
Minor (3-10) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings in a 7-3 victory over the Nationals. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
The veteran lefty tossed 105 pitches (71 strikes) en route to just his second quality start of the season, with the first coming back on July 1. Minor also completed seven innings for the first time in 2022, and he's now won back-to-back starts after dropping eight straight decisions. It should be noted, however, that the wins came against Pittsburgh and Washington, two of the four teams with records worse than Cincinnati's in 2022.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Picks up second win
Rotowire
Minor (2-10) allowed five runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out one in 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Pirates on Sunday.
Wins have been hard to come by for Minor this season, but he got plenty of offensive support from the Reds on Sunday and earned his first win since June 13 despite giving up five runs. The southpaw has given up at least four runs in four of his six starts since the All-Star break and has posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 30.2 innings during that time. He tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Washington on Friday.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Saddled with 10th loss
Rotowire
Minor (1-10) took the loss after allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings Monday against the Phillies.
Minor was handed an early two-run lead by his offense, but he would surrender three runs in the top of the third inning and another in the fifth before exiting with a 4-2 deficit. The southpaw has been handed three straight losses counting Monday's start, giving up 11 runs on 20 hits and seven walks to go with 13 strikeouts over that stretch (15.2 innings).
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Reds' Mike Minor: Bogged down by homers
Rotowire
Minor (1-9) was tagged with a loss after he pitched 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three versus the Mets on Tuesday.
Minor was able to pitch two scoreless frames before running into trouble in the third inning. He surrendered a one-out, two-run homer to Francisco Lindor and then another solo shot to Jeff McNeil in the following inning. Minor failed to reach six innings on the mound for the fifth straight outing after doing so in consecutive starts in early July. Since the All-Star break, the left-hander has produced a 6.30 ERA and 1.75 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 20 innings in four starts.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Gives up three in loss
Rotowire
Minor (1-8) gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings to take the loss in a 3-0 defeat against the Marlins on Wednesday.
Minor is in the midst of a down season and was assigned a difficult matchup against Sandy Alcantara, who took the mound for the opposing Marlins. The combination did not bode well, as Minor gave up three runs and received no run support from a depleted Reds lineup that recently traded away Brandon Drury at the deadline. At 34 years of age, Minor is likely in the twilight of his career. His fastball is down over four mph since 2017 and he has labored in 11 starts this year after beginning the season late due to shoulder soreness. The veteran will carry a 6.19 ERA into his next expected start at the Mets.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Yields two runs
Rotowire
Minor allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over 5.1 frames in Friday's loss to Baltimore. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.
Minor scattered a handful of baserunners over five shutout innings before he coughed up a two-run homer to Anthony Santander in the sixth. The veteran southpaw owns an unsightly 6.31 ERA while allowing a home run in nine of his 10 starts this season. In five July starts, Minor posted a 4.91 ERA with a 24:12 K:BB through 25.2 frames. He's lined up to start in Miami next week.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Error derails start
Rotowire
Minor pitched five innings, giving up five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in Wednesday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.
Minor pitched two scoreless innings before the wheels fell off in the third frame. After he walked Joey Gallo and surrendered a single to DJ LeMahieu to open the inning, a Jonathan India error allowed Anthony Rizzo to reach base with one out. Minor proceeded to allow five runs to score in the frame, only one which was earned. The left-hander was removed after the following inning. He's produced a 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 17 punchouts over 16.1 frames in three starts in July. Wednesday's outing actually lowered Minor's season-long ERA from 6.63 to a still-unimpressive 6.21 over 42 innings in eight starts.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Takes loss after late struggles
Rotowire
Minor (1-6) took the loss during the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Pirates, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out eight.
The veteran lefty cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one baserunner. However, Minor gave up a leadoff home run to Diego Castillo in the fifth, a two-run double in the sixth and an RBI single in the seventh before being replaced by Luis Cessa. Minor has completed six innings in four of his last five starts, but he has a 6.07 ERA during that span. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Thursday's road matchup against the Yankees.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Gets little help in loss
Rotowire
Minor (1-5) took the loss Friday as the Reds were routed 9-1 by Atlanta, giving up two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
It was the first quality start of the season for the veteran lefty, but Minor's efforts were wasted as the Reds gave him almost no support. The zero walks were somewhat remarkable given that he tossed only 54 of 94 pitches for strikes, and Minor had walked multiple batters in four of five starts since missing the first two months of the season with a shoulder issue. Despite Friday's performance, he'll carry a 6.82 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 24:10 K:BB through 31.2 innings into his next outing, but a run of solid starts could rehabilitate his trade value ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Hit hard in loss
Rotowire
Minor (1-4) allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings, taking the loss versus the Giants on Saturday.
Minor allowed three home runs, though he was fortunate they were all solo shots. It was still far too much for the Reds to overcome, and the southpaw has picked up only one win through five starts since making his season debut June 3. He's sporting an ugly 7.71 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB through 25.2 innings, and he's already allowed 10 long balls after giving up 26 in 28 starts last year. The 34-year-old will try to keep the ball down in a home start versus Atlanta next week.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Ineffective in loss
Rotowire
Minor (1-3) took the loss Sunday against Milwaukee, allowing four runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out four over six innings.
Minor did not allow a hit or a run in the first three innings but allowed three of each in the fourth. In the sixth, he loaded the bases and gave up a run on a sacrifice fly. The lefty has allowed seven homers in 20.2 innings and amassed an unsightly 6.97 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in his first four starts. His next start will likely be next weekend in San Francisco.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Notches first win
Rotowire
Minor (1-2) earned the win over Arizona on Monday, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five.
After struggling and getting tagged with a loss in each of his first two starts, Minor pitched well enough Monday to pick up his first win. The veteran southpaw gave up four runs through the first four innings, but he didn't allow the Diamondbacks to get on the scoreboard the rest of the way while pitching into the seventh frame. Minor did give up another home run -- he's now allowed six long balls over 14.2 frames -- but this was the first time that he didn't get tagged for multiple homers in an outing. Despite the victory, Minor isn't a recommended fantasy target.
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Reds' Mike Minor: Struggles in second start
Rotowire
Minor (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out four.
After a shaky first inning, Minor cruised through the second and third before getting into trouble in the fourth. The veteran hit Ketel Marte with a pitch to lead off the inning and proceeded to give up a two-run homer to Christian Walker one batter later. He surrendered the second home run of the game to Josh Rojas with one out in the fifth and was pulled in favor of Luis Cessa. Minor missed the start of the season due to a shoulder injury and has returned with poor results, allowing five homers across 8.1 innings during his first two starts of the season. However, given the current status of Cincinnati's pitching staff, there's no indication that the left-hander will be pulled from the rotation.
