Trey

Mancini

The 32-year-old Mancini failed to make the Marlins this spring and hasn’t gotten much interest since, even though the team that signed him wouldn’t have to pay him more than the minimum salary. The Cubs, still paying him $7 million this season, released him last year after he hit .234/.299/.336 in 79 games.

There wasn’t much of a path to a roster spot for Mancini down in Miami after signing a minor league contract with the club back in late January. The 32-year-old veteran slugger will test the free agent waters instead of sticking around at Triple-A Jacksonville.

Mancini came into the day 1-for-16. The Tim Anderson and Nick Gordon acquisitions have left Mancini without a clear path to a roster spot in Miami. Unless someone gets hurt, the Rays would likely have to bail on the out-of-options Vidal Bruján in order to carry Mancini or maybe Jonah Bride.

The Cubs are on the hook for Mancini’s salary, so it’s pretty tough that he couldn’t even get a guaranteed major league deal at the minimum. Signing with the Marlins, though, does provide him with a better opportunity for playing time than he might get elsewhere. Mancini struggled terribly last year, hitting .234/.299/.336 in 263 PA before being let go by the Cubs, but he was pretty solid the previous two years. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is a lifetime .263/.328/.448 hitter.

Mancini signed a minor league contract last week with the Reds and wound up homering twice during a brief five-game stint with Triple-A Louisville. It’s possible he’s been granted his release to pursue an opportunity somewhere else before Thursday night’s playoff roster deadline.

Not good. Votto didn’t end up making his season debut until mid-June due to a lengthy recovery from last year’s major left shoulder surgery, so it’s a cause for concern that he’s experiencing discomfort again. It’s unclear how much time the 39-year-old veteran on-base machine will wind up missing, but this certainly helps explain Cincinnati’s decision to ink Trey Mancini to a minor league contract earlier this week.

Mancini provides Cincinnati with an experienced right-handed bat, if needed, as they make a playoff push over the next few weeks. The 31-year-old veteran, who was released by the Cubs earlier this month, will most likely head to Triple-A Louisville for a stretch, but figures to get an opportunity with the Reds at some point in September.

Mancini went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week and is now free to pursue another opportunity on the open market. The 31-year-old veteran posted a disastrous .635 OPS with just four homers across 263 plate appearances this season in his Cubs debut after signing a two-year, $14 million contract last offseason.

This move seems to have been building for some time, as the 31-year-old slugger has really struggled at the plate this season — slashing .234/.299/.336 with just four homers, 28 RBI and a 78/21 K/BB ratio over 263 plate appearances. He could attract interest on waivers.

Mancini doubled in the first inning which gave the Cubs a quick 3-0 lead. However, he was replaced in the top of the third inning after struggling on defense at first base. The 31-year-old is hitting .245/.317/.364 with four homers and 23 RBI across 207 plate appearances.