Like all teams, the Cincinnati Reds are allowed to carry 26 players on their active roster and up to 40 overall, but they’re always looking to expand their depth—especially in pitching.
At Triple-A Louisville, the Reds have surrounded top pitching prospects Rhett Lowder and Chase Petty with experienced veterans who have pitched in the majors. Given how unpredictable pitching can be, the organization wants to ensure they have plenty of fallback options if any of their top five starters or key bullpen arms go down.
Two such veterans currently in Louisville are left-handed reliever Joe La Sorsa, who has MLB experience with the Rays and Nationals, and right-hander Wade Miley, a 13-year big league veteran. To keep them in Triple-A, the Reds agreed to contract clauses allowing both to opt out if not promoted to the big-league roster by a certain date.
That date is today.
A Mixture Of Youth And Experience
Both Joe La Sorsa and Wade Miley have the option to opt out of their minor league contracts with the Reds on June 1, and reports suggest both plan to exercise that right.
Miley, 38, returned to Cincinnati on a minor league deal this past offseason as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which limited him to just two outings with the Brewers in 2024. So far in Triple-A Louisville, signs of rust have been clear—over four starts, he’s posted a 5.92 ERA in 13.2 innings, striking out only seven batters. A former All-Star with the Diamondbacks in 2012, Miley previously pitched for the Reds from 2020 to 2021, and the team had hoped he could bring veteran stability to their staff. So far, that rebound hasn’t materialized.
La Sorsa, 27, hasn’t dealt with significant injury concerns—he’s simply searching for a chance. After debuting with the Rays during their 2023 roster shuffle, he was claimed by the Nationals and posted a 4.47 ERA and 4.61 FIP across 50.1 innings between 2023 and 2024. In Louisville this year, he’s put up a 3.92 ERA with opponents hitting just .181 against him in 21 appearances. Still, his even strikeout-to-walk ratio reflects a lack of dominance, despite a solid mid-90s fastball.
Ultimately, neither pitcher did quite enough to convince the Reds they could make an immediate impact at the Major League level. Still, the organization likely hoped to keep both in the system, knowing how long the season still stretches ahead.
Reds’ Depth Concerns Extend Beyond the Mound
Truth be told, while the Reds are quietly watching their pitching depth thin out, their more pressing issues are in the batter’s box.
Matt McLain’s sluggish return after missing all of 2024 has left a noticeable void in the infield production, and Jeimer Candelario’s underwhelming performance increasingly looks like a misfire in free agency. At the same time, Cincinnati is leaning heavily on red-hot starts from newcomers Austin Hays, Jose Trevino, and Gavin Lux—an offensive surge that, if history is a guide, may not be sustainable over a full season. Until Noelvi Marte returns, the team has few ready-made replacements available in the upper minors to bolster the lineup.
But the Reds’ need for stability doesn’t end with the bats. They also need reliable innings from the mound—now more than ever. Young starters Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, both previously sidelined by serious injuries, remain high-risk despite their talent. And with Brandon Williamson, Carson Spiers, and Julian Aguiar all on the 60-day IL, the Reds’ rotation is increasingly walking a tightrope.
Add to that a bullpen with a middling 4.15 ERA and the loss of Alexis Díaz as a dependable closer, and it’s clear that the Reds would benefit from stockpiling every remotely serviceable pitcher they can keep in the system. La Sorsa and Miley, while not lighting up Triple-A, were part of that safety net—experienced, available, and at least plausible options if a hole opened up.
Unfortunately, they don’t need to wait for a chance anymore. Both appear ready to opt out, and Cincinnati looks likely to lose two of its veteran fallback arms. That leaves Alan Busenitz—back in the mix by necessity—among the next best options.
The Reds aren’t in crisis yet, but between inconsistent bats and dwindling pitching depth, their margin for error is getting smaller by the week.
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