The Cincinnati Reds have signed left-handed pitcher to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2. The deal will pay La Sorsa the league minimum $780K if he makes the majors and $180K in the minors.
La Sorsa, who will turn 27 in April, had a brief stint on the open market after being designated for assignment and cleared waivers by the Washington Nationals. Less than two hours after becoming a free agent, he agreed to the deal with the Reds.
Over the last two years, La Sorsa has logged 50 1/3 innings in the majors, posting a 4.47 ERA. His 19.2% strikeout rate is below average, but his 6.4% walk rate is slightly better than the league norm. Statcast shows he’s done a decent job of limiting hard contact, with better-than-average numbers in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate.
In the minors, La Sorsa has posted similar numbers. Over 2023 and 2024, he pitched 92 2/3 innings with a 2.82 ERA, an 18% strikeout rate, and a 6.2% walk rate. His standout year came in 2022 when he recorded a 2.33 ERA in 73 1/3 innings across 40 appearances, with a 31.4% strikeout rate and a minuscule 3.6% walk rate.
Even if La Sorsa doesn’t return to his eye-popping strikeout numbers, his strong control and ability to limit hard contact could make him a useful asset. The Reds are expected to have three lefties in their bullpen, including Taylor Rogers, Brent Suter, and Sam Moll, but the addition of La Sorsa provides added depth. If he makes the major league roster, he has a couple of option years left and less than a year of service time, offering the Reds affordable depth with roster flexibility.
Leave a Reply