Sorry to see India go. Excellent talent. That said, I’m ok with retooling the entire roster if that’s what it takes to get us out of 70 something win purgatory. I bet we will start to see some more moves in the coming weeks.
1 Like
Yep, this needs to be the beginning of multiple trades/signings. I think how McLain (and even Arroyo and Callihan) performed in the Arizona Fall League made India expendable.
Starting pitching depth was depleted with the Tommy John surgeries to Williamson and Aguiar. Keeping Martinez and the Singer trade does a lot.
I hope they re-sign Junis, and get a quality OF. Upgrading backup C also a huge need.
2 Likes
1 above average OF
1 decent backup C
2+ good RP’s.
This is what I think is needed to make the team a playoff team. Although I still think Fraley might bounce back after what was a year with lots of weird situations for him and be a cheap quality option for our RF. (He got sick at the very beginning of the year and lost 20 lbs, was never able to gain it back. Had little power throughout the year. In addition, his daughter was diagnosed with cancer and he had two stints on the family emergency list and was probably distracted throughout the year, understandably so. The family announced she was in remission at the end of spring training, but then he took family leave during the season with no details given).
2 Likes
The Reds just released Ian Gibault, who most had penciled in as a bullpen arm. Definitely need to improve depth there, and hopefully that’ll be via good RP, and not bodies they claim off waivers.
Agreed on Fraley. I did see that over the final month or so, his bat speed had rebounded to what it was in April, so I think it took him that long to recover from bronchitis or whatever it was. Not heard any updates on his daughter beyond what you mentioned.
OF-Conforto might be a lower cost option for the cost conscious Reds.
Yeah, Gibaut has only pitched one full season once in his 5 years. Demotions and injuries are to blame. That one full year was 2023, where he was above average, with a 3.33 ERA, but only a 4.45 xFip. Last year he only pitched in 2 games. My guess is the combination of lack of availability, increasing costs, and poor peripherals led to his being non tendered. If the team uses those savings toward better players, than I applaud their methods. If they use that money for this years Emilio Pagan, well that’s just more of the same. (Speaking of which, Emilio Pagan had a 2.99 ERA in 2023 with a 4.57 xfip, meaning his peripherals were suggesting serious regression. The Reds instead signed him for 2 years at $8 mil per, suggesting they felt he was a top line middle reliever. They were wrong.)
1 Like
With the arms in the running for the rotation at 6 (Greene, Lodolo, Martinez, Abbott, Singer, Lowder) Ashcraft and Spiers are probably candidates to transition to the bullpen.
Or one of the above traded for an OF bat. That remains a need. Unless the Reds wade into the FA market. For someone like Bader or O’Neill. I doubt they spend on top tier OF FA.
This might be unkind, but there is almost no one on the roster I wouldn’t be afraid to trade. Gotta do something this off season to jumpstart the mediocrity. I guess it sorta depends on how the new manager wants to build it.
I would be shocked if any of those 6 were traded, mainly because they’re likely to need 8+ starting pitchers due to injury.
Unfortunately you’re probably spot on regarding FA outfielders. They have a huge need for at least one. I’d prefer 2, but if both were FA signings then they’re signing 2 dimes as opposed to 1 quarter, if that makes sense.
I think by acquiring Singer in a trade you save a lot of money that you’d have to pay an equivalent pitcher on the open market. Hoping this means they sign an OF knowing they saved money on the pitching.
1 Like