Reds Claim Righties Duncan Davitt and Paxton Schultz Off Waivers as Cincinnati Starts Restocking Its Bullpen

Reds fans, the offseason roster shuffle has started, and Cincinnati just used two of its open 40-man spots on pitching depth.

The Reds announced Monday afternoon that they claimed right-hander Duncan Davitt off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and right-hander Paxton Schultz off waivers from the Washington Nationals. "The #Reds today claimed off waivers RHP Duncan Davitt from the Giants and RHP Paxton Schultz from the Nationals," the club posted on X. Both pitchers go straight onto the 40-man roster, which had five openings as of Monday morning, per MLB Trade Rumors.

Why now

Monday was a big paperwork day around the league. Players who finished the season on the 60-day injured list had to be put back on 40-man rosters, and that squeezed clubs like the Giants, who had to clear room. Cincinnati came in with space to spare, so it could grab arms other teams had to let go, as Red Reporter's Wick Terrell pointed out.

Who the Reds got

Davitt, 27, was an 18th-round pick of the Rays in 2022 out of Iowa. He has bounced around since: traded to the White Sox in the 2025 Adrian Houser deal, debuted in the majors this April, went to Atlanta in an August trade for catcher Joey Bart, then was claimed by the Giants in September, per MLB Trade Rumors. His big-league sample is tiny, eight innings across his stops. MLBTR notes he still has two minor league options left and works mostly off a 93 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider, though he posted a 6.04 ERA in 2026, mostly at Triple-A, with a strong 24% strikeout rate.

Schultz is a former 14th-round Brewers pick out of Utah Valley who spent five years in the Blue Jays system before the Nationals claimed him last January. He has more big-league experience, about 57 innings, according to Red Reporter, and he also has options left.

Our Take: Nobody is printing playoff tickets over two waiver claims, and that's fine. This is what a smart front office does in early November: fill open spots with optionable arms that cost nothing, then sort out who sticks. The Reds' bullpen has real holes after this week's free-agent departures, and pitchers who can ride the Louisville shuttle have value over a long season. Neither spot is guaranteed. Both could be designated for assignment if Cincinnati needs room for a bigger addition later this winter.

What's next: Teams have until Nov. 17 to add Rule 5-eligible prospects to the 40-man roster, so watch whether the Reds keep both claims through that deadline.

Story first flagged via Red Reporter, Heavy and TSN.

Sources: Cincinnati Reds on X, MLB Trade Rumors, via Red Reporter (Yahoo Sports)