GOODYEAR, Arizona – The Cincinnati Reds released veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon on Friday as they begin to finalize their Opening Day roster.
Strange-Gordon was competing for a utility role after the Reds moved Eugenio Suárez to starting shortstop. It could symbolize that Kyle Farmer and Alex Blandino will be the primary utility players on the Reds bench while Jonathan India is expected to be the starting second baseman. Max Schrock, who has hit well in camp, is in that competition, too.
There was an opt-out clause in Strange-Gordon’s contract Wednesday as a non-roster invitee, so the Reds had to expedite a decision on whether he was going to make the Opening Day roster.