The Cleveland Indians designated struggling corner infielder and designated hitter Mark Reynolds for assignment Thursday.
With the move, the Indians have 10 days to release, trade or outright Reynolds.
Reynolds has had a disappointing season with Cleveland after signing a one-year $6 million contract out of free agency this past December. Through 99 games, Reynolds, 30, is batting just .215 with 15 homers and 45 RBI. He's only hit two long balls since May, and has struck out 123 times this season.
Reynolds, a right-handed hitter, is batting just .185 (5-for-27) with 10 strikeouts in 27 at-bats since the All-Star break. The Indians signed Reynolds, hoping to capture the magic from his bat that helped propel the Baltimore Orioles to the playoffs last season. In last year's campaign, Reynolds put up modest numbers with a .221 average, 23 home runs and 69 RBIs while striking out 159 times, but it was a nine-game stretch where he hit nine home runs and had 17 RBIs last year that caught Cleveland's eye this offseason.
Reynolds started off hot for the Indians, hitting 13 homers in his first two months with the team, but his production has plummeted and his defense is limited, so the Indians lost faith in him and decided to designate him for assignment.
Reynolds had started just eight of the Tribe's last 21 games and has an OPS of just .745 against left-handed pitchers.
His career homer total of 196 could make him an attractive option to a team looking for another bat in their lineup.
The Indians (62-52) found Reynolds expendable due to his lack of production and defensive ability, and don't feel as though the slugger would be too much of a help down the stretch as the team looks to catch the American League Central division-leading Detroit Tigers. The Tigers hold a six game lead over second place Cleveland going into Thursday.
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