Reds place Jake Fraley on injured list, activate Connor Joe

Who’s hurt? You hurt? You’re probably hurt.

You probably thought the Friday night trade that brought Connor Joe to the Cincinnati Reds from the San Diego Padres was a ‘depth’ move.

WELCOME TO THE DEEP, MY FRIEND!

With Austin Hays ‘back’ but still kind of DH-ing, Spencer Steer somewhat the 1B default now (despite his shoulder still not being 100%), Tyler Callihan’s arm broken, and the otherwise robust infield mix thinned by injuries to Noelvi Marte, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Jeimer Candelario, hell, you should probably go knock on Nick Krall’s door. It’s not as if Blake Dunn, Rece Hinds, Jacob Hurtubise, or Will Benson have seemed to elbow their way in and claim a regular role.

Enter Joe, who is going from AAA El Paso to Houston to join the Reds...and jump directly into the starting lineup tonight. That’s because Jake Fraley, who’s been battling a calf issue himself, is now heading to the injured list, too.

The Reds announced the move on Saturday afternoon.

Joe is in the lineup tonight batting 9th and playing LF, doing so against a RHP even though everything about his career suggests he’s a guy who should only really get regular PA against LHP. Hays, for what its worth, is out of the lineup tonight after only being activated yesterday (for a game where he was the DH, not in the OF).

It’s enough to make you wonder if the Reds sought Joe because he was already in Texas and could presumably get to Houston quicker than anyone from other AAA clubs. (No, don’t you dare tell me to check Google Maps to see how far El Paso is from Houston.)

Anyway, this is all getting somewhat ridiculous, especially if you’re of the age to remember Tyler Stephenson missing all of April and Matt McLain already doing time on the IL once this year, too. Get these Reds some vitamins, damnit!