The Cincinnati Reds shared two roster moves on Wednesday.
The Cincinnati Reds made a pair of roster moves this week as the club continues to shape its pitching depth heading into the 2026 MLB season.
Right-handed relief pitcher Lyon Richardson has been sent outright to Triple-A Louisville, while fellow right-hander Keegan Thompson was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.
Richardson, a second-round pick by Cincinnati in 2018, has spent the past few years bouncing between the majors and Triple-A, serving mostly as a depth arm. The Reds added him to the 40-man roster in late 2022 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but his role has remained limited.
Richardson has shown solid velocity, averaging in the mid-90s with his fastball and sinker, but command issues have held him back. His strikeout and walk rates have been below league average, and while he has flashed potential in Louisville, the results have not consistently translated to the big leagues.
In 2025, the Reds shifted Richardson into a relief role after primarily using him as a starter earlier in his career. His Triple-A numbers were respectable, but he struggled to find the same success in Cincinnati.
With his final option year exhausted, the Reds designated him for assignment in late December following the acquisition of outfielder Dane Myers from the Miami Marlins.
After clearing waivers, Richardson will remain in the organization as non-roster depth. Across 39 MLB appearances, he owns a 6.05 ERA and an 0–5 record with 43 strikeouts in 55 innings.
The other move involved Thompson, who was claimed by the Rockies after being designated for assignment by Cincinnati last month. Thompson had only recently signed with the Reds in November.
The club hoped he would clear waivers and provide depth at Triple-A, but Colorado stepped in to add him to their 40-man roster. Thompson previously spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs, where he logged more than 200 innings and posted a 3.64 ERA from 2021–24.
Cincinnati viewed him as a potential swingman who could provide innings in either the rotation or bullpen, a valuable role for a team still trying to stabilize its pitching staff.
For Cincinnati, the moves reflect the balancing act of roster management in the offseason. Richardson remains in the system as depth, while Thompson moves on to Colorado, leaving the Reds to continue searching for reliable pitching options as they aim to build on their young core in 2026.