Homer Bailey is finally ready to start a minor league rehab for the Cincinnati Reds. The 30-year-old has missed all of this year and most of last due to Tommy John surgery.
Bailey looked like he might return earlier than expected this year. However, an elbow issue prompted the Reds to stop his rehab in April.
Now, Bailey will try it again with a scheduled two-inning appearance on Monday for the Reds’ Triple-A team. The appearance will be the first of several in the minors for Bailey before he returns to the Reds, barring any further setbacks.
The return to action for Bailey follows a weekend tribute by the big league club to the 1976 World Series champion Big Red Machine. The 1976 Reds will be featured on the field prior to the start of Friday’s game. The reunion is part of the ceremonies for induction of Pete Rose into the Reds’ Hall of Fame.
While Bailey will be toiling in the Reds’ minor league shadows, his plunge back into action is almost monumental for a team that has turned into a disaster virtually overnight.
The hapless Reds are trying to prevent another wasted season like last year when the team lost 98 games. So far, the Reds are on pace to finish worse than year. The 2016 Reds have a .384 winning percentage compared to .395 last year.
A healthy Bailey would help the Reds start to climb out of the depths to which the organization has sunk.
A healthy Bailey would also help the Reds’ front office to save some face. The decision to sign Bailey to a long-term deal instead of once-in-a-generation pitcher Johnny Cueto could go down as one of the worst in Reds’ history if Bailey doesn’t start to earn his six-year, $105-million contract extension.
The Reds reduced opening day payroll this from $115 million in 2015 to just about $90 million this year. That amount stands to be even lower next year. Bailey will make $19 million in 2017, not much less than the $22 million in line for Joey Votto.
Bailey and Votto could count for as much as half ($41 million) of the Reds’ entire payroll in 2017.
That’s a steep price to pay for Votto, much less a pitcher with a career 4.19 ERA who hasn’t pitched in over a year. Especially for a team in a small market the size of Cincinnati.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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