Nick Krall is on one heckuva hot-streak at the moment. The Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations has made a flurry of signings this week and added another on Thursday morning. According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, former New York Yankees pitcher Albert Abreu has signed a minor-league deal with the Reds that includes an invite to spring training.
Abreu did not pitch in the big leagues last season, and instead was overseas as a member of the Seibu Lions bullpen. The right-handed hurler posted a 2.39 ERA in 49 innings, and will be coming back stateside to add even more depth to the Cincinnati relief corps.
Reds sign former Yankees flamethrower Albert Abreu to minor-league contract as bullpen depth
The Reds pulled off a trade for San Francisco Giants left-hander Taylor Rogers on Wednesday and also added former stalwart reliever Ian Gibaut on a minor-league deal. The Reds bullpen, which was a major concern after trading away Fernando Cruz, has been given quite the boost over the past couple of days.
Abreu, 29, brings over 100 games of big league experience to the Reds bullpen. After signing with the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2014, Abreu was dealt to the Yankees in 2016 as part of a trade package that included former major league catcher and seven-time All-Star Brian McCann.
The Reds are signing right-hander Albert Abreu to a minor-league contract, source says. The deal includes an invite to spring training.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 30, 2025
Abreu didn’t make it to The Show until the pandemic-shortened season in 2020 when he appeared in just two games. The right-hander was later traded to the Texas Rangers for current Reds catcher Jose Trevino. Abreu spent time in 2022 pitching for the Yankees, Rangers, and Kansas City Royals before returning to the Bronx in 2023. In total, Abreu has 108 major league appearances with a 4.58 ERA.
There is going to be quite the competition for those eight reliever spots in the Reds’ bullpen this spring. If healthy, Rogers, Alexis Díaz, Sam Moll, Tony Santillan, Brent Suter, and Emilio Pagán are all but guaranteed to open the season on the active roster. The remaining two roster spots will be up for grabs with Abreu now competing with the likes of non-roster invitees Gibaut, Zach Maxwell, Bryan Shaw, and Alex Young, along with Casey Legumina, Carson Spiers, and others.
