Alex Young DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds have signed left-handed pitcher Alex Young to a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Young logged just 15 2/3 innings of major league play last season and performed well with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Through 32 innings at the Triple-A level, Young posted a strong 2.81 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, Young held a 3.86 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP across 53 2/3 innings of work. While Young has begun to turn the corner in the major leagues, he has battled numerous injuries, which has limited his production. Fantasy managers should expect the southpaw to compete for a spot in the Cincinnati bullpen during spring training.

The New York Mets claimed left-handed reliever Alex Young off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse. In a corresponding move, the team designated pitcher Tyler Jay for assignment. The 30-year-old Young had a 3.86 ERA in a full season for the Cincinnati Reds last year and has been very good at Triple-A Louisville and Triple-A Sacramento in 2024, posting a 2.19 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and eight walks in 24 2/3 relief innings on the farm. The veteran southpaw landed with the Giants organization in the trade that sent outfielder Austin Slater to Cincinnati in early July. Young will operate as left-handed relief depth for the Mets in the minors and isn't on the fantasy radar at all.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Alex Young (back) has allowed just one unearned run over eight relief appearances and 8 1/3 innings during his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. Young also pitched on back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday and worked a scoreless inning in both games. The 30-year-old southpaw reliever begin his rehab assignment on May 2 after being out all year to this point in the majors due to lower-back disc degeneration. It explains why the reliever has been extended on his rehab assignment, but he has to be getting close to returning to Cincinnati's bullpen at this point. When healthy, Young gives the Reds another lefty arm in their bullpen. In his first year with the Reds in 2023, Young had a 4-2 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, his first career save, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings pitched.