35-year old switch hitting outfielder Gary Matthews has opted out of his minor league deal with the Reds. Matthews played in 23 games in AAA-ball for the Reds and he was 32 of 101 (.317 avg, .856 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 3 homers, 6 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Reds didn’t have room in their outfield for Matthews but manager Dusty Baker wanted to keep him for later when rosters expand in September. Matthews will be on the hunt for a new gig now.

The Reds one big hole is the righty side of the bullpen. The Reds made a big deal with the Blue Jays last July and I would go back to the well again in 2010. I really like Jason Frasor of the Blue Jays. I think he would make a fine set up man for Francisco Cordero. He wouldn’t come cheap as the Reds would likely want a prospect like outfielder Chris Heisey. I would make that deal if I were running the Reds because they are in a dog fight with the Cardinals and they can’t afford to be blowing many leads the rest of the way. It sounds like a steep price as Heisey is a good prospect but that’s the kind of price you pay to contend these days.

The Reds have moved 22-year old lefty pitcher Aroldis Chapman to the bullpen to get him ready for a callup later this year. Chapman’s future is likely still as a starting pitcher but he can help the Reds more in the pen this year. Chapman has pitched in 21 games (13 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 6-6 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He has only given up 67 hits in 76 1/3 innings this year and he has whiffed 94 batters showing just how nasty his stuff is. But, he still has some things to work on as he has walked 47 batters this season. Until he tightens up his control the Reds can’t call him up.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Edison Volquez has been dominating on a rehab assignment as he gets closer to coming back to the Reds’ starting rotation. Volquez has started 4 games in A+AAA-ball so far this season and he is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and a 0.58 WHIP. He has only allowed 9 hits in 19 innings this season in the minors while whiffing 15 batters and walking only 2 showing that his stuff is almost all of the way back. Volquez has started 41 games in his first two years with the Reds and he is 21-8 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The Reds can’t wait until Volquez is ready to join the starting rotation.

The Reds have released 30-year old Chris Burke. Burke played in 66 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 59 of 248 (.238 avg, .674 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 5 homers, 26 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Burke was kind of upset and he’s thinking about quitting baseball. He has played in 477 games in the majors in his career and he is 303 of 1,267 (.239 avg, .674 OPS) with 176 runs scored, 23 homers, 111 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.