Guardians assign Franmil Reyes, their opening day cleanup man, to the task

Cleveland Guardians announced a number of moves on their Twitter account on Saturday, most notably designating outfielder Franmil Reyes for assignment and releasing first baseman Bobby Bradley. The Guardians also traded away right-handed pitchers, optioning Hunter Gaddis to Triple-A Columbus and purchasing the contract of Jake Jewell.

Reyes, 27, entered the season as Cleveland’s cleanup man based on his track record of above-average offensive production. In over 400 games prior to this season, he had hit .260/.325/.503 (121 OPS+) with 92 home runs.

However, Reyes was never able to get going this season. He was optioned to the minors on Tuesday after hitting .213/.254/.350 (72 OPS+) with just nine home runs in 70 games. Reyes’ strikeout and walk rates both took steps in the wrong direction, and he became more likely to pop up. He still hit the ball hard — his average exit velocity ranked in the 93rd percentile — but it wasn’t enough to overcome the aforementioned development.

The Guardians likely considered Reyes, who will make more than $4.5 million this season, as a non-tender candidate. They now have a week to either grant him a waiver or release him.

Bradley, 26, was once a touted prospect thanks to his sheer raw power. Unfortunately, his strikeout-prone ways never allowed him to establish a foothold in the majors. In 97 big league games, he posted an 86 OPS+ and struck out in more than 37 percent of his trips to the plate.

Since the demotion of Reyes, the Guardians have used four different players at DH, including Josh Naylor and Owen Miller, or both of their first-base platoon. Cleveland promoted infield prospect Tyler Freeman to the majors on Wednesday, suggesting they could have a rotation in mind in which Freeman and the other infielders — Amed Rosario, Jose Ramirez and Andres Gimenez — take turns serving as DH as a means to get them all at-bats and rest.

The Guardians entered Sunday with a 55-52 mark on the season, putting them two games back in the American League Central and AL wild card races.