Reds make last-minute move, claim RHP Brett Marshall

General Manager and President of Baseball Operations Walt Jocketty and the Cincinnati Reds claimed right-handed pitcher Brett Marshall off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon.

In order to make room for the acquisition, the club chose to designate infielder Henry Rodriguez for assignment.

It's been a busy offseason for the Reds of late with the additions of infielders Chris Nelson and Ramon Santiago as well as outfielder Roger Bernadina all within the last month. However, they aren't the only one who has been staying busy; Marshall has had an adventurous offseason in his own right.

After spending the 2013 season with the New York Yankees, who drafted Marshall in the sixth round of the June 2008 first-year player draft, the Texas native was designated for assignment on Dec. 19, the same time the team signed former St. Louis Cardinal Carlos Beltran. Early the next week, the Cubs claimed Marshall off waivers on Dec. 23.

As it turns out, that only lasted 51 days as Marshall was recently designated by the Cubs, presumably in an effort to open up a roster spot for pitcher Jason Hammel, who is currently in the process of finalizing his contract with the club.

Now, as of Feb. 12, Marshall is a member of the Reds organization.  

The 23-year-old spent the majority of last season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and made 25 starts for the team, posting a 7-10 record with a 5.13 ERA. Also, in two separate stints with the Yankees during the season, including his Major League debut on May 15, he made three relief appearances and posted a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings pitched.

With Rodriguez designated for assignment, the Reds will still have 59 players in Goodyear, Ariz., for their spring camp, but there will now be one additional pitcher when they report on Friday.

Rodriguez has been with the Reds organization since they signed him as a non-drafted free agent on March 27, 2007 and he led the Triple-A Louisville Bats with a .274 batting average and 131 hits in 2013. He will be placed on the waiver wire and, if unclaimed, could potentially remain in the Reds system.