LOS ANGELES — In November of 2023, Derek Johnson called Tony Santillan.

Santillan, who had shown flashes of being an standout young relief pitcher before early in his big league career suffered a devastating back injury that killed his 2022 season. More injuries defined his year in 2023. Late in that season, the Reds removed Santillan from the 40-man roster and he became a free agent at the end of the year. The Reds were interested in bringing him back, but just on a minor league deal.

“He had options to go elsewhere,” Johnson said. “I remember having a phone call with him and telling him how important I thought he was to us. The thing is that there are a lot of guys in the league whop have to go through trials and tribulations and do whatever it takes to stay in the game. That’s what he

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