Cincinnati Reds DFA Two Pitchers
Marinaccio's DFA came first, announced Monday morning to open a roster spot. Right-hander Zach McCambley was added as the 27th man for Cincinnati's doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, and Emanuel's contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville to take the mound in Game 1.
By the time the day was over, Emanuel had joined Marinaccio on the DFA list too, with right-hander Zach Maxwell recalled from Louisville to fill the spot.
Third Team In One Season That Never Clicked
Marinaccio's exit traces back to a brutal Sunday outing against the Miami Marlins, where he walked three batters and allowed a home run during a five-run ninth inning. He allowed earned runs in all four of his appearances with Cincinnati, totaling 10 earned runs across just 5.1 innings.
The #Reds today have appointed as the additional player for the doubleheader RHP Zach McCambley, selected from Triple-A Louisville LHP Kent Emanuel and designated for assignment RHP Ron Marinaccio.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 17, 2026
Cincinnati was actually Marinaccio's third organization of the season. He opened the year in San Diego's bullpen, was later included in a trade to Pittsburgh that sent international bonus pool space back to the Padres, and was designated for assignment by the Pirates on August 3 before the Reds claimed him off waivers.
An Unlikely Path Back To The Majors
Emanuel's day told a very different story.
The 34-year-old, who signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati earlier this month after pitching in the independent Atlantic League, started Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader and held his own, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four.
It was as strong a showing as anyone could have reasonably expected from a journeyman who'd been in indy ball just weeks earlier, and he kept Cincinnati in the game while sparing a taxed bullpen.
Ron Marinaccio gives up 5 runs in the 9th to put this game out of reach
— SleeperReds (@SleeperReds) August 16, 2026
(Who is Ron Marinaccio?) pic.twitter.com/SyS0zfOCce
The Reds still lost, but that fell more on an offense that managed just one run against Cardinals rookie left-hander Quinn Mathews than on Emanuel himself.
Emanuel wasn't going to be available again for four days given his workload, and with a second game to play that same night, Cincinnati needed a fresh arm regardless of how well he'd just pitched. The outing gave him parts of three career big league seasons, adding to brief stints with the Astros in 2021 and the Marlins in 2024, with a career 4.46 ERA, a 16.8 percent strikeout rate, and an 8.1 percent walk rate across his limited MLB action.
With the trade deadline already passed, both pitchers now head to waivers, where Marinaccio's stronger track record gives him a real shot at catching on elsewhere, while Emanuel, given his previous outright history, would have the right to reject a return trip to Louisville in favor of free agency if he goes unclaimed.
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