Reds FeedJulian Aguiar
P · Age 25 · Bats Left · Throws Right
Where things stand
Julian Aguiar's 2026 season has been marked by significant roster movement following his return from Tommy John surgery. The right-handed pitcher earned his first MLB win in relief against the Cubs after being recalled by Cincinnati in mid-September, but was subsequently optioned back to Triple-A Louisville and then claimed off waivers by the Cubs, making him ineligible for Chicago's postseason roster. Aguiar spent most of 2026 at Triple-A, recording 56 strikeouts over 58 innings in 16 starts before his late-season recall.
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Julian Aguiar coverage
Reds lose former top pitching prospect to Cubs in strange end-of-season roster move
The Chicago Cubs claimed right-handed pitcher Julian Aguiar off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds less than a week after his 2026 debut. Aguiar, 25, missed the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and spent most of 2026 pitching for Triple-A Louisville, where he recorded 56 strikeouts over 58 innings across 16 starts. Since he was added to the Cubs roster after September 1, he is ineligible for their postseason roster but could start Chicago's final regular-season game to allow the team to rest starters before the Wild Card Series.
Blog Red MachineCubs Claim Julian Aguiar
The Cubs claimed right-handed pitcher Julian Aguiar off waivers from the Reds. Aguiar will join Chicago, a division rival of Cincinnati, though the Cubs will need to make a corresponding roster move since they currently have a full 40-man roster.
MLB Trade RumorsChicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds – September 19, 2026
The Reds won Friday's series opener against the Cubs and host Chicago again Saturday at 6:40pm ET at Great American Ball Park. Nick Lodolo starts for Cincinnati with a 5.12 ERA this season, while Matthew Boyd takes the mound for Chicago with a 4.16 ERA. Lodolo has struggled with consistency after dealing with blister issues, while Boyd has pitched significantly better on the road (2.95 ERA) than at home (5.53 ERA) this year. Cincinnati made four roster moves today, optioning TJ Friedl and Julian Aguiar while calling up reliever Zach McCambley and activating Oswaldo Cabrera.
Redleg NationReds quietly signal TJ Friedl’s days are numbered with latest roster move
The Cincinnati Reds optioned left fielder TJ Friedl to Triple-A and activated utility player Oswaldo Cabrera ahead of Saturday's game against the Cubs. Friedl has struggled significantly this season, batting .179 in his first 47 games and .157 since returning to the roster on June 28, primarily serving as a defensive replacement. The Reds also recalled pitcher Zach McCambley and sent pitcher Julian Aguiar back to the minors. Cabrera, acquired off waivers from the Yankees, will have the final week-and-a-half of the season to prove he belongs in Cincinnati's 2027 plans.
Blog Red MachineReds send TJ Frield to Triple-A among several roster moves
The Cincinnati Reds optioned outfielder TJ Friedl and pitcher Julian Aguiar to Triple-A Louisville while calling up reliever Zach McCambley and utility player Oswaldo Cabrera from the Yankees on waivers. Friedl has struggled significantly this season, batting .172 with a .510 OPS across 91 games, while Aguiar was sent down after pitching three innings in relief the previous night. McCambley has been recalled multiple times this year and most recently pitched a scoreless inning against St. Louis over a month ago. The optioning of Friedl and Aguiar likely ends their seasons, as they must remain in the minors for at least 10 and 15 days respectively, and Cincinnati has only nine games remaining.
Redleg NationReds send TJ Friedl to Triple-A among several roster moves
The Cincinnati Reds optioned outfielder TJ Friedl and pitcher Julian Aguiar to Triple-A Louisville while calling up reliever Zach McCambley and utility player Oswaldo Cabrera ahead of their game against Chicago. Friedl has struggled significantly this season, batting .172 with a .510 OPS across 91 games, marking a substantial decline from his previous performance. Aguiar was recalled to pitch multiple innings in Friday's game after the Reds depleted their bullpen, while McCambley returns after a month in the minors where he posted a 3.38 ERA despite walking more batters than he struck out. Both Friedl and Aguiar will likely miss the remainder of the season due to the required time they must spend in the minors and the limited games remaining on Cincinnati's schedule.
Redleg NationREDS POSTCAST: The Cincinnati Reds OUTPLAY Cubs, Elly De La Cruz Leads Dramatic Victory Surge
The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-4, with Elly De La Cruz reaching base four times and continuing her pursuit of a 30-30 season. Jose Treviño and Eugenio Suarez provided clutch hits, while pitcher Julian Aguiar earned his first MLB win following Tommy John surgery, and the bullpen delivered strong performances to secure the victory.
Locked On RedsReds come from behind to defeat the Cubs 6-4
The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-4 in the opening game of their series. After falling behind 4-3 in the fourth inning, the Reds rallied in the sixth with a three-run inning featuring an RBI single by Eugenio Suarez and a two-run single by Jose Trevino to take a 6-4 lead. Julian Aguiar earned the win in his first appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery, while Emilio Pagan recorded the save despite allowing a walk in the ninth inning.
Redleg NationChicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds – September 18, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs tonight at Great American Ball Park for the first game of a three-game series, with first pitch at 6:40pm ET. Chase Burns starts for Cincinnati while Clay Holmes takes the mound for Chicago, with Burns showing a significant split against left-handed hitters who are batting .232 with a .319 on-base percentage compared to right-handed hitters at .189. The Reds made roster moves ahead of the game, claiming utility player Oswaldo Cabrera on waivers and calling up pitcher Julian Aguiar after placing Julian Garcia on the injured list with loose bodies in his elbow.
Redleg NationReds claim Oswaldo Cabrera from New York Yankees, promote Julian Aguiar
The Cincinnati Reds claimed versatile infielder Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the Yankees and recalled pitcher Julian Aguiar following his Tommy John surgery recovery. Cabrera, a 27-year-old switch-hitter, will provide roster depth for the final home series, while Aguiar replaces Julian Garcia, whose season ended due to elbow surgery requiring loose body removal. The Reds also moved Spencer Steer to the 60-day injured list to create the necessary roster spots.
Red ReporterCincinnati Reds acquire Oswaldo Cabrera, call up Julian Aguiar
The Cincinnati Reds claimed utility infielder Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the New York Yankees and called up pitcher Julian Aguiar from Triple-A Louisville. To make roster space, the Reds moved Spencer Steer to the 60-day injured list and placed reliever Julian Garcia on the 15-day injured list with loose bodies in his elbow. Cabrera has played 304 career games across five seasons with the Yankees, hitting .232 for his career, while Aguiar is returning from Tommy John surgery after making his MLB debut in 2024.
Redleg NationReds add former Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera amid flurry of roster moves
The Cincinnati Reds claimed infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the New York Yankees and moved utility player Spencer Steer to the 60-day injured list to make roster space. The Reds also recalled pitcher Julian Aguiar from Triple-A Louisville and placed right-hander Julian Garcia on the 15-day IL with loose bodies in his elbow, effectively ending Garcia's rookie season. Cabrera hit .288 with a 105 wRC+ in 122 games for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate this season and has over 300 career major league games.
Blog Red MachineReds Claim Oswaldo Cabrera
The Reds acquired infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the Yankees after New York designated him for assignment. Cincinnati created roster space by moving Spencer Steer to the 60-day injured list. The Reds also recalled right-hander Julian Aguiar and placed Julian Garcia on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow loose bodies.
MLB Trade RumorsReds' farm system raises a huge red flag for the 2027 season
Cincinnati's farm system ranking dropped from 12th to 23rd between the preseason and August, partly because prospects like Sal Stewart and Edwin Arroyo graduated to the majors. The more significant concern is the system's composition: four of the top 10 prospects are shortstops, and nine of the top 10 are position players, leaving only 19-year-old Aaron Watson as a promising pitching prospect. With Hunter Greene out for all of 2027 following his second Tommy John surgery and Brady Singer becoming a free agent, the Reds lack depth behind ace Chase Burns and will struggle to fill rotation spots beyond their top three starters. Prospects like Rhett Lowder, Chase Petty, and Julian Aguiar carry question marks and are better suited as back-of-the-rotation options rather than reliable No. 4 or 5 starters.
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