According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds have signed left-handed pitcher Alex Young to a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Young logged just 15 2/3 innings of major league play last season and performed well with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Through 32 innings at the Triple-A level, Young posted a strong 2.81 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, Young held a 3.86 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP across 53 2/3 innings of work. While Young has begun to turn the corner in the major leagues, he has battled numerous injuries, which has limited his production. Fantasy managers should expect the southpaw to compete for a spot in the Cincinnati bullpen during spring training.

The New York Mets claimed left-handed reliever Alex Young off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse. In a corresponding move, the team designated pitcher Tyler Jay for assignment. The 30-year-old Young had a 3.86 ERA in a full season for the Cincinnati Reds last year and has been very good at Triple-A Louisville and Triple-A Sacramento in 2024, posting a 2.19 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and eight walks in 24 2/3 relief innings on the farm. The veteran southpaw landed with the Giants organization in the trade that sent outfielder Austin Slater to Cincinnati in early July. Young will operate as left-handed relief depth for the Mets in the minors and isn't on the fantasy radar at all.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Alex Young (back) has allowed just one unearned run over eight relief appearances and 8 1/3 innings during his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. Young also pitched on back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday and worked a scoreless inning in both games. The 30-year-old southpaw reliever begin his rehab assignment on May 2 after being out all year to this point in the majors due to lower-back disc degeneration. It explains why the reliever has been extended on his rehab assignment, but he has to be getting close to returning to Cincinnati's bullpen at this point. When healthy, Young gives the Reds another lefty arm in their bullpen. In his first year with the Reds in 2023, Young had a 4-2 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, his first career save, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings pitched.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) and left-handed reliever Alex Young (back) are heading out on minor-league rehab assignments on Thursday with Triple-A Louisville. Manager David Bell said the rehab assignment will be like spring training for Friedl, who had his spring training cut short due to a small fracture in his right wrist in mid-March. It means that the 28-year-old will likely be in the minors for the maximum amount of time, especially given how crowded Cincy's outfield rotation already is. Once he's back with the Reds, Friedl will battle for playing time against right-handed pitching. Young, who is on the 60-day injured list while recovering from low-back disc degeneration, won't be eligible to return until late May.

The Cincinnati Reds moved left-hander Alex Young (back) to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday and claimed outfielder Peyton Burdick off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles in a corresponding move. The Reds sent Burdick to Triple-A Louisville as organizational outfield depth. Young was shut down during spring training in mid-March with lower-back disc degeneration and now won't be able to make his 2024 debut for the Reds until late May. The 30-year-old southpaw reliever went 4-2 last year with the Reds while recording a 3.86 ERA (4.99 FIP), his first career save, a 1.36 WHIP, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings in his 63 appearances out of the bullpen. Young can continue to be ignored in fantasy circles.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Alex Young (back) experienced back tightness during his workout on Wednesday in spring training and is to be evaluated before resuming his throwing schedule. The Reds are going to be cautious with the 30-year-old reliever, and Young has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day. The veteran southpaw was solid for the Reds in 63 appearances out of their bullpen in 2023, going 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA (4.99 FIP), a 1.36 WHIP, his first career save, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings pitched. Young's 4.99 FIP shows that he was pretty fortunate, though, and he won't really be of much use to fantasy managers in a relief role again this year if he's healthy. He has a career 4.43 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 224 strikeouts in 262 innings pitched over his five major-league seasons.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Alex Young picked up an extra-innings save on Sunday, securing a 9-7 victory over the Houston Astros. Young came into the game in the tenth after Ian Gibaut blew the save in the ninth with usual closer Alexis Diaz unavailable. The former allowed the ghost runner to score, but nothing more. The lefty has been solid this season, sporting a 2.83 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 31 strikeouts in 28 IP. He won't get many saves since Diaz has been one of the best bullpen arms in baseball, but he will generate his share of holds and put up decent ratios and strikeouts. He holds some value in saves plus holds leagues.

The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent left-hander Alex Young to a minor-league deal on Tuesday with an invitation to major-league spring training. Young spent his fourth major-league season in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians and San Francisco Giants. He only went one-third of an inning in Cleveland and tossed 26 1/3 innings over 24 appearances (one starts) in San Francisco. In total, he had a nice 2.36 ERA (2.89 FIP), 1.50 WHIP, 21 strikeouts and 11 walks. The 29-year-old southpaw will have a shot to stick in the rebuilding Reds' bullpen in 2023, but he won't have any fantasy appeal. Young has a 4.58 career ERA (5.09 FIP), 1.42 WHIP and 19 percent strikeout rate in 208 1/3 innings over 97 outings (25 starts) in his four big-league seasons.

The San Francisco Giants acquired left-hander Alex Young on Monday from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash considerations. The Giants optioned Young to Triple-A Sacramento. In a corresponding move, San Francisco outrighted left-hander Aaron Fletcher to Sacramento after he cleared waivers. Young, 28, gave up a hit and struck out one in his one-third of an inning pitched for the Guardians this year. He had a 3.66 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, with 47 strikeouts, one save and seven walks in 32 relief innings at Triple-A Columbus. Young will function as left-handed relief depth in his new home.