Reds add Minor League RHP Van Belle in trade, claim IF/OF Vilade off waivers
DETROIT -- The Reds made a pair of transactions for added depth in Triple-A on Saturday.
First, Cincinnati swung a trade by acquiring right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle from the Red Sox for cash considerations. In a separate move, infielder/outfielder Ryan Vilade was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals.
Both players were optioned to Triple-A Louisville. With the Reds' 40-man roster at capacity before the waiver claim, outfielder Jacob Hurtubise was designated for assignment.
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Van Belle, 28, was designated for assignment by Boston on Tuesday. He was on that club's big league roster for one day after being called up, but he did not pitch.
In 12 games (eight starts) this season for Triple-A Worcester, Van Belle was 5-1 with a 2.29 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 41 strikeouts over 51 innings. The Reds are short on rotation depth in the big leagues and Triple-A because of injuries to Hunter Greene, Carson Spiers and No. 2 prospect Rhett Lowder.
Van Belle had spent his entire pro career in the Red Sox organization after he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Vilade, 26, has played 27 big league games across three seasons for the Rockies (2021), Tigers ('24) and Cardinals ('25). He is a career .141 hitter in the Majors but is a .279 hitter with a .774 OPS across eight Minor League seasons.