Chris Paddack Elects Free Agency After Outright From Reds

Chris Paddack is back on the free-agent market after electing free agency following an outright assignment by the Cincinnati Reds, according to the transaction tracker as relayed by MLB Trade Rumors. The move comes after Cincinnati designated him for assignment earlier this week, a roster step that typically indicates a team is looking to open space while determining whether a player can remain in the organization, be traded, or be removed from the 40-man roster.

After a DFA, a player may be traded, released, or placed on waivers. In Paddack’s case, MLB Trade Rumors reports he was outrighted, and that he subsequently elected free agency. By choosing free agency rather than accepting the assignment back into the Reds’ organization, Paddack retains more control over where he plays next, at the cost of leaving behind any immediate in-house certainty.

The timing also matters for Cincinnati’s short-term roster planning. DFA decisions often reflect a team’s need to balance starting-pitching depth, bullpen availability, and the current construction of the 40-man roster. Even when a pitcher can still contribute, teams sometimes decide that a roster spot is better used elsewhere, especially when there is pressure to add a different profile or promote another arm.

MLB Trade Rumors also notes that this is the second time Paddack has reached the waiver/free-agency process in the same calendar year. The first instance, per the report, came after he was released by the Miami Marlins in mid-May, and then moved through waivers quickly to get another opportunity. That kind of turnover is unusual, and it underscores how tightly teams manage pitching staffs throughout the long season.

For Paddack, the path back to the market presents both opportunity and uncertainty. Free agency allows him to seek a new situation, potentially one with clearer role definition or a different path toward rejoining a big league rotation. At the same time, because waiver outcomes and roster decisions are driven by team needs, his next destination will likely depend on how contenders and rebuilding clubs view their immediate pitching requirements.

From a broader MLB standpoint, Paddack’s case is a reminder of how quickly a veteran can shift between organizations once a team decides it wants a different roster composition. The DFA-and-outright process can be particularly punishing for depth starters, even for pitchers with prior major league experience, because waiver exposure creates leverage for other clubs deciding whether they want to take on a player for the remainder of the season.

What to watch next is where Paddack lands and what role he is expected to fill. His election of free agency suggests he is open to a fresh start rather than returning through the same organizational channel. For the Reds, the decision clears a roster spot and indicates Cincinnati is moving forward with a different internal plan for its pitching depth, while the Marlins, as the earlier team in the sequence, are indirectly part of a second chapter in the same 2026 waiver storyline.