Reds remove four from 40-man roster

CINCINNATI -- The Reds removed four players from their 40-man roster in a series of transactions made on Wednesday.

Designated hitter/infielder Matt Davidson, outfielder Travis Jankowski, left-handed reliever Jesse Biddle and right-handed reliever Matt Bowman cleared waivers and were sent outright to Triple-A Louisville.

The moves put Cincinnati’s 40-man roster at 37 players. Bowman did not count on the 40-man roster this season because he was on the 45-day injured list with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery last month.

Davidson batted .163 with three home runs in 2020 and was designated for assignment on Sept. 8. But he was brought back for the National League Wild Card Series roster vs. Atlanta. He registered a plate appearance in Game 1, but he didn’t get to take an at-bat when a double steal attempt was foiled.

Like Davidson, Jankowski made the Opening Day roster but was optioned to the alternate training site on Aug. 26. He was 1-for-15 in 16 games in the regular season and also brought back for the postseason. He stole a base as a pinch-runner in Game 1.

Biddle pitched one game this season -- two-thirds of an inning -- but he went on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder impingement.

All of the players were eligible for arbitration this winter and were likely non-tender candidates that would have made them free agents.