The Cincinnati Reds added a pair of right-handed bats off the waiver wire Thursday, claiming center fielder Harrison Bader from the New York Yankees and slugger Hunter Renfroe from the Los Angeles Angels as they continue their push for a postseason spot.
Bader, 29, was waived by the Yankees earlier this week after batting .240 with seven home runs in 80 games this season. He missed the first month of this season with an oblique injury and also was sidelined nearly three months last season because of a foot injury.
Renfroe was one of five former Angels players claimed Thursday. Pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore were claimed by the Cleveland Guardians, while right-hander Dominic Leone was claimed by the Seattle Mariners.
Bader was acquired by the Yankees from the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 2 last year for left-hander Jordan Montgomery and hit five homers in nine postseason games for the Yankees.
“It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees and, yeah, it’s just really special for a lot of reasons,” Bader said in Detroit. “So there’s just a lot of good moments and I’m just really excited because regardless of the situation, no one can ever take the fact that I put that uniform on, growing up in that city, which means a lot to me. … I’m just very very excited and thankful for the opportunity and, man, that was special.”
His departure clears the way for 20-year-old prospect Jasson Domínguez to be promoted to the Yankees and play center field.
Renfroe, 31, was one of six players waived by the Angels this week. He batted .242 with 19 homers and 56 RBI in his first season with the Angels, who acquired him from Milwaukee last November for three young pitchers: right-handers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero, and minor league lefty Adam Seminaris. Renfroe has 176 homers in eight major league seasons, hitting .240 with 450 RBI.
Cincinnati (69-66) is one game behind the San Francisco Giants (69-64) for the third wild-card spot in the National League.
The Reds added $2,058,333 in payroll with the two moves. Renfroe is owed $1,275,000 of his $7.65 million salary and Bader $783,333 of his $4.7 million salary. Both are eligible for free agency following the World Series.
Infielder-outfielder Alejo Lopez and outfielder Michael Siani were designated for assignment by the Reds in corresponding roster moves Thursday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.