Former Yankees top prospect becomes Reds roster casualty after Gavin Lux trade

This offseason has been full of former Yankees in the news, and we've got a double-dipper here! Who would have thought?! And with New York in need of some pitching, perhaps there's ... actually, no, we won't go that far.

Former top prospect (and headliner in the 2021 Jameson Taillon trade) Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds on Monday following the Gavin Lux trade with the LA Dodgers.

The Yankees were also reportedly pursuing Lux, and we're unsure what happened here. All the Reds sent to LA in return was outfielder Mike Sirota, a 21-year-old who has yet to make his professional debut.

Perhaps the Yankees have other plans, but Lux is now a Red, and Contreras was shucked off the 40-man roster because Cincy needed to clear space. Contreras has now been DFA'd by the LA Angels, Texas Rangers, and Reds this offseason.

And to think at some point Yankees fans were complaining about his inclusion in the Taillon trade years ago ...

Yankees News: Former top prospect Roansy Contreras designated for assignment again

Contreras, a former international signing out of the Dominican Republic, never debuted with the Yankees. The Pirates gave him his chance, but after an encouraging 2022 that featured a 3.79 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 21 games (18 starts), Contreras fell apart in 2023. He logged a 6.59 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 19 games (11 starts) and continued to falter out of the bullpen in 2024 before being DFA'd and traded to the Angels.

He experienced similar results in Anaheim, only surrendering fewer hits. And with how bad the Angels are, it's telling how they felt about getting him off the roster once 2024 concluded.

Contreras is still just 25 years old and has only 90 MLB games under his belt, so it's not like his career is over by any means. If somebody can help him avoid consistently gifting opposing hitters with center-cut offerings, then there might be something to salvage with Contreras as a multi-inning option as one of the last guys in the bullpen.

But once again, Brian Cashman didn't give up anything of note in a trade headlined by a big name. Though Taillon didn't exactly move mountains for the Yankees, his 4.08 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 61 starts across two seasons was far more valuable than what any of the names sent to Pittsburgh have done since.