Ron Marinaccio clears waivers, elects free agency after third DFA of 2025

Right-hander Ron Marinaccio cleared outright waivers and elected free agency rather than accept a minor-league assignment from the Cincinnati Reds, per Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard. The move closes a turbulent 2025 season in which Marinaccio was designated for assignment three times — by the Padres, Pirates, and Reds — and claimed twice before finally passing through unclaimed.

Marinaccio reached the three-year service threshold this summer, which entitled him to refuse an outright assignment and become a free agent. He had not yet qualified for arbitration before this season, so no guaranteed salary was left on the table.

What happened

The Reds claimed Marinaccio off waivers shortly after the trade deadline, per the report. He spent two weeks in their bullpen and allowed 10 runs across 5 1/3 innings. Cincinnati designated him for assignment, placed him on outright waivers, and this time no club submitted a claim. Because Marinaccio is out of options and has accrued more than three years of major-league service, he was entitled to reject the outright assignment and elect free agency.

The Reds also signed right-hander Darius Vines to a minor-league contract, per Goldsmith.

Why it matters

Marinaccio's path through three organizations in a single season illustrates the narrow margin for relievers without options once performance falters. The Padres designated him for assignment earlier this year; the Pirates claimed him, then designated him again; the Reds claimed him in early August, and now he has cleared waivers for the first time. Each time a club designated him, another was willing to take on the 40-man roster spot — until this week.

The three-year service threshold is the lever that allowed Marinaccio to walk away. A player with fewer than three years of service must accept an outright assignment or be released; a player with three or more years can refuse the assignment and become a free agent, even if he has not yet reached arbitration eligibility. Marinaccio qualified for arbitration this winter for the first time, but because he had not yet been through the arbitration process, he was not walking away from a guaranteed contract — only from the chance to remain in the organization on a minor-league deal.

The designation also opens a 40-man roster spot for Cincinnati, though the club has not announced a corresponding move.

The numbers

Marinaccio has pitched 57 2/3 innings across the Padres, Pirates, and Reds this season. The report notes he allowed 10 runs in 5 1/3 innings with Cincinnati, a brief and difficult stint that ended his fourth stint on a major-league roster this year.

Where the club stands

The Reds are 69-74 (.483), fifth in the NL Central and 18.5 games behind the division leader. They sit eighth in the Wild Card race, 6.5 games behind the cut line, and have won their last two games. Cincinnati hosts the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, with Brady Singer scheduled to face Michael McGreevy, then travels to Arizona for a weekend series beginning Friday. Nick Lodolo is the probable starter for the opener against Eduardo Rodriguez, and Rhett Lowder is slated for Saturday against Michael Soroka.

The bullpen that Marinaccio briefly joined remains a work in progress for a club that is no longer in realistic postseason contention but is evaluating pieces for 2026. The addition of Vines on a minor-league deal suggests the Reds are continuing to churn the edges of their pitching depth as the calendar turns toward September.

What we don't know yet

It is unclear whether Marinaccio will find another major-league opportunity this season or will need to accept a minor-league contract, as the report suggests is likely. He is a free agent and can sign with any club, but the fact that he cleared waivers — meaning all other teams passed on the chance to add him for the major-league minimum salary — indicates limited interest at the moment.

The Reds have not announced a corresponding 40-man roster move, though the designation of Marinaccio created an open spot.

What to watch

Marinaccio will look for other opportunities, per the report, but the market for a reliever who has been designated three times in one season and allowed 10 runs in his most recent 5 1/3 innings is uncertain. If he signs a minor-league deal elsewhere, he would need to be added to a 40-man roster to pitch in the majors again this year, and clubs have limited incentive to do so in late August unless they see a clear path to a rebound.

For Cincinnati, the focus shifts to the final six weeks of the season and the evaluation of younger arms. The Reds are 6.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with five weeks remaining, and the bullpen remains an area where the club is sorting through options for next year. The signing of Vines adds another arm to the organizational depth, though he will begin in the minors.

The broader lesson is familiar: a reliever without options and without recent success has little margin for error. Marinaccio's three designations in one season are unusual but not unprecedented, and his decision to elect free agency rather than accept a minor-league assignment reflects both his service time and the reality that a fresh start elsewhere may offer a better path back to the majors than staying in an organization that has already moved on. The Delaware product will now test that market as August winds down and rosters begin their September expansion.