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    Home Blog Page 10

    The Reds Made A Move

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    In the 2024 MLB season, the Cincinnati Reds, a team in the midst of rebuilding and seeking to bolster their pitching staff for a potential playoff push, make a surprising move by claiming right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras off waivers. Contreras, 24, had been a promising young arm for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he had been designated for assignment after struggling with consistency and injuries in the early part of 2024. Subscribe to our newsletter!

    Roansy Contreras’ Background:

    Roansy Contreras was originally signed by the New York Yankees as an international free agent in 2016. However, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 as part of a package for Jameson Taillon. By 2021, Contreras had emerged as one of the Pirates’ top pitching prospects, thanks to a fastball that could touch 98 mph and a promising curveball. His stock continued to rise in 2022 when he made his MLB debut for the Pirates, quickly showing flashes of potential as a starter.

    Despite his promise, Contreras has faced some hurdles in his young career. His 2023 season was marred by inconsistency, including a significant dip in his strikeout rate and struggles to command his pitches in key situations. In 2024, he began the season in the Pirates’ rotation but was demoted to the bullpen after continuing to struggle with command and control. The Pirates, in need of roster space and with limited options in their pitching depth chart, made the decision to designate Contreras for assignment in late June. Perhaps you’ve heard of his name due to him being DFA’d for the Pirates’ new ACE, Paul Skenes…yep, it was Roansy that took the dart for him.

    The Reds’ Interest:

    The Cincinnati Reds, who have been making strides with a young core of position players, have recognized the importance of adding controllable pitching talent to their roster. They had previously been in the market for a mid-rotation starter or high-upside bullpen arm, and Contreras, despite his inconsistency, represented an intriguing option with his power fastball and good secondary pitches.

    The Reds’ front office, led by general manager Nick Krall, had scouted Contreras heavily while he was in the Pirates system and saw potential for development. The team’s pitching coach, Derek Johnson, had a strong track record of working with young pitchers and helping them unlock their potential. Johnson believed that with some mechanical adjustments and a more stable role, Contreras could become a valuable piece for the Reds’ pitching staff.

    Contreras’ New Role with the Reds:

    Contreras was added to the Reds’ 40-man roster and would be given a fresh opportunity to work under Johnson’s tutelage. If he could find consistency with his command, Contreras’ high-velocity fastball, plus curveball, and emerging changeup could help him become a key asset for the Reds out of the bullpen for the 2025 club.

    Why the Reds Took a Chance on Contreras:

    1. High Upside: Despite his struggles, Contreras still has the raw stuff to become a strong major league pitcher. His strikeout potential, along with a fastball that can overpower hitters when he’s on, made him worth the gamble.
    2. Pitching Development: The Reds’ recent success in developing young pitchers like Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft showed that their development system had been working. Contreras’ upside fit well with the team’s overall strategy of developing homegrown pitching talent.
    3. Cost-Effective: With Contreras out of options, the Reds could bring him in without making a long-term financial commitment. If the move didn’t work out, they could part ways without significant cost. This low-risk, high-reward nature of the move made it appealing. There’s a great chance he’ll be high on the list of “Re-DFA” candidates, too, and wouldn’t be the first time the Reds claimed a player then cut bait quick, especially with Contreras having no options remaining.

    2024 Season Outlook:

    Contreras would likely begin the second half of the season in a developmental role, either in the bullpen or as a spot starter. If he showed progress, the Reds might stretch him out as a starting option in 2025, when they were expected to contend for a postseason spot. The team remained hopeful that with some tweaks to his approach, Contreras could emerge as a long-term rotation piece alongside Greene and Lodolo.

    As of the end of the 2024 season, Contreras would remain a player to watch. While his 2024 performance with the Reds could be uneven, the team was committed to giving him every chance to succeed and become part of their next generation of pitchers by adding him to the 40 man roster, for now…

    Browns Make Quarterback Change Ahead of Bengals Matchup

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    Ahead of a key matchup for the Bengals next week, it looks like the Cleveland Browns are going to shake things up. Mary Kay Cabot is reporting that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for the Browns at quarterback. He will replace Jameis Winston ahead of the week 16 contest. 

    Winston was 2-5 for Cleveland after stepping into the starting role following that ugly injury to Deshaun Watson earlier in the year. 

    Most recently, Winston threw three interceptions against the Chiefs this past week. After that, he was benched in favor for Thompson-Robinson. Winston has been interception prone all year. He’s thrown 12 picks in his seven starts. The struggling Browns ex-starter chucked multiple interceptions in a game in four of those seven. 

    Fortunately for the subpar Bengals pass defense, Thompson-Robinson’s numbers are far from elite. In two years, he’s completed 75 of 146 passes (51.4%) for 540 yards and a touchdown against seven interceptions. After coming in for Winston last week he threw an interception of his own and only attempted nine passes.

    Things don’t look much better for the Browns on the ground either. Running back Nick Chubb is out for the year with a broken foot. And although Jerry Jeudy is having a great 2024 season for Cleveland with over 1,000 receiving yards, it’s going to be very difficult for a passer like DTR to get him the ball accurately and consistently. This is all good news for a Bengals team that desperately needs this game. 

    Cincinnati has just a five percent chance to make the playoffs. They have to win out, first and foremost, to make that happen. The secondary forced two bad Titans quarterbacks into four interceptions last week. That being said the defense is still 27th against the pass and 31st in points allowed per game. But with a fresh untested starter ready to take the field for Cleveland, that could lead to a similar performance this week as the one we all saw against Tennessee. 

    Noelvi Marte and His Struggles Continue

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    Noelvi MArte
    Sep 22, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte (16) prepares for the pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

    Noelvi Marte’s Start to His Career and His Suspension

    Noelvi Marte’s major league career has not been off to a great start. Coming onto the scene for the first time in August of 2023 it looked like Marte would be a great player for years to come, hitting .316/.366/.456 in just 35 games he started in the 2023 season even ending off the season with a 13 game hitting streak. It looked like Marte was heading for a great 2024 season with the potential to win the National League Rookie of the Year.

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    Unfortunately, news came out just before the start of Spring Training that Marte was found to be using PEDs or Steroids. He was suspended for 80 games in the 2024 season, thus ending any thought of him winning the Rookie of the Year award and hurting the Reds significantly, who would be without their rising star third basemen for half the season.

    Marte’s 2024 Major League Season

    On June 11, 2024 Marte was finally cleared to resume baseball activities and was sent on an assignment to the Triple A Louisville Bats. High hopes remained, but while in Louisville Marte performed very poorly with a slash line in 12 games of .151/.151/.170. These numbers were obviously disappointing, leading to some fans questioning if they should leave him down there for a while to let him get his feet under him. However, Marte returned to the Reds lineup following his 80 game suspension on June 27th in the first of a 4 game series against the Cardinals at St. Louis. In his first game back, it looked as if his troubles in Louisville were left behind him. Marte had a great first game back, tallying 3 hits, scoring 3 times, and driving in a runner on a double in the top of the 3rd.

    Noelvi Marte
    Noelvi Marte

    However, Marte’s struggles quickly came back and he regressed. Marte went on to struggle immensely throughout the rest of the season tallying in 66 games a slash line of .210/.248/.301. These numbers were significantly worse than what every fan had hoped for out of the 23 year old rookie. It is unclear of course whether or not the suspension got to him and caused him to start playing poorly, but one could assume that the suspension definitely caused some lack of confidence.

    Marte’s Rough start to the Winter League

    On November 12, 2024 Marte made his Winter League debut in the Dominican Republic. We all hoped this would be a good way for Marte to build up some confidence ahead of the 2025 season and get his feet back under him and right the ship. Unfortunately, his struggles have continued, with him hitting in just 23 games .221/.299/.325 with only 5 extra base hits. Most recently, in his game just yesterday, December 16, 2024, going 0-5 with 3 strikeouts. Things are not looking promising for the 23 year old getting ready to go into his second professional season of baseball.

    Fans are starting to lose faith in him with some suggesting we trade him for an OF bat or a pitcher. I personally do not think this would be wise, however, due to the fact that he is still young and has shown he has the potential to be great. Are his struggles concerning? Yes, but I don’t think we should write him off just yet. While we all hope he can overcome his struggles at the plate, it is definitely something to keep an eye out for throughout the rest of his winter league season and spring training.

    Krall’s take on Marte and what we as fans can expect.

    During the last week of the 2024 regular season, Nick Krall, Brad Meador, and Freddie Benavides (who was the acting manager at the time) sat down with Marte and had a conversation with him about his season and where it went wrong. “We had a direct conversation with him about where his year went sideways, what he needed to do and where he needed to grow to become a big league third baseman on a regular basis,” Krall said. “It’s something he understood. He understood where he was. He’ll have to make those adjustments and come into spring training to win a job.” Krall told Charlie Goldsmith.

    Krall also noted in his conversation with Charlie that the suspension was obviously the start of his poor 2024 season and what led to it being so poor. This conversation also gave fans insight into the fact that Marte will be competing for a roster spot at the start of the 2025 season. As fans, while Marte is obviously struggling and it is concerning, I think we should not give up on Marte just yet. I still believe he is a good ballplayer who can and will bounce back from this season, especially with the help of new manager Terry Francona who should be able to help lead Marte in the right direction towards becoming a great ballplayer. Noelvi Marte has already shown the glimpses of the great ballplayer he is and can be, we all just have to be patient and give him some time.

    How the Bengals Can Make the Postseason

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    The Bengals, coming off of a 37-27 win against the Tennesee Titans, stand at 6-8 and are practically eliminated from the Postseason. However, with Joey B at the helm playing MVP football, there is always a chance. The Bengals don’t control their own destiny, but there is a reasonable path to the playoffs. Here’s how.

    The Bengals MUST Win Out

    The first and most obvious factor is that the Bengals must win out and finish 9-8. They have the Browns, the Broncos, and the Steelers to finish the regular season. The Browns now sit at 3-11. They are without Nick Chubb for the rest of the year, and still are going through QB woes. Jameis Winston was benched in favor of Dorian Thompson Robinson, who the Bengals likely see next week.

    The Broncos bring the toughest challenge. Depending how their game goes on Thursday Night with the Chargers, the week 17 matchup could be huge in the Benglas odds. Their offense is 22nd in yards per game, but their defense is 8th in yards allowed per game. They also lead the league in sacks and 2nd in QB pressure rate. They’ll be a tough challenge for the Bengals.

    The Bengals will head to Pittsburgh for their final regular season matchup, a game which likely consists of the Steelers B-team. If the Bengals sit at 8-8, I could see the Steelers playing their starters in hopes to spoil their division foe’s chances.

    Nonetheless, the Bengals will need to bring their A-game in all 3 matchups at any chance of the postseason.

    The Broncos, Colts, and Dolphins Must Lose

    The Bengals currently sit as the 10th seed behind the Colts, Dolphins, Broncos, and Chargers. The Chargers own the head to head vs the Bengals, therefore we need the Broncos to lose out instead. In doing that, the Bengals would take the head to head mathchup. They play the Chargers on Thursday Night Football, who have the easier remaining schedule. Thus forcing the Bengals to root against Denver.

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    The Colts play the Titans, Giants, and Jaguars to close out their season. They’re not guaranteed to win any of those matchups, however they’ll likely be favored in all three. The Dolphins play 49ers, Browns, and Jets. Also likely to be favored in all three. But the inconsistency between the two teams, one loss for them both is possible.

    The Probabilities

    The Bengals currently only have a 4% chance to make the playoffs, according to the New York Times models. If the Broncos lose all three and the Bengals win all three, the Bengals would have a whopping 85% chance to make it.

    It’ll all depend on how well the Bengals perform as the season comes to a close. If I was a betting man, I’d always bet on Joe Burrow to find a way. The defense is finding a new groove also with young guys stepping up. Myles Murphy lead the team in pressures last week, the defense forced 8 turnovers, and the offense is still scoring 30+ ppg.

    It’ll be an interesting finish. Let’s hope they close it out strong.

    The Reds Have Big Market Teoscar Hernandez Competition

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    teo hernandez

    Teoscar Hernandez is reportedly closing in on signing with a team per several sources out of the Latin American media. The Cincinnati Reds are one of the suitors that have expressed interest in him, per Hector Gomez but they are up against some titans. Titans with a whole lot more money than them, to say the least. Subscribe to our newsletter!

    The Selling Point?

    Considering Teoscar Hernandez is seeking a 3 year deal, that is well within range of how the Reds like to structure free agency contracts. They don’t want to commit longterm so they can avoid costly mistakes. Per his MLB Statcast page, Teoscar would’ve hit 43 HRs in GABP versus the 36 actual he hit. That is the most of any other ballpark, which could be a selling point. Teoscar is 32 years old, which could mean a 3 year deal would put him at 35, where he could potentially add another year or two of contract should he desire to play. I wrote about Teoscar Hernandez being a good fit in this article here, where several MLB analysts also agreed that he could be a great fit.

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    The Cincinnati Reds should consider signing Teoscar Hernandez for several strategic reasons. Hernandez has proven himself as a reliable power hitter, having hit .272 with 36 total home runs in the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His offensive capabilities could significantly bolster the Reds’ lineup, especially given their need for a potent right-handed outfielder. Playing half his games at Great American Ball Park, known for favoring hitters, Hernandez could potentially exceed his already impressive home run totals, providing the Reds with the offensive boost they need to compete in the National League Central.

    Additionally, Hernandez’s experience, including his contributions to a World Series-winning team, would add veteran leadership and postseason know-how to a relatively young Reds squad aiming to make a playoff push. His signing could also serve as an immediate upgrade over current options, enhancing the team’s competitiveness for the upcoming season – Terry Francona’s first.

    Who Are The Other Teams In On Him?

    Hector Gomez, whom is one of the most reliable sources when it comes to Latin American professional players, listed 5 other teams that have “interest” in him. As of now, it’s more than likely he goes back to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but with every day that passes, those chances go lower and lower. The 5 other teams control the upper 80% of market size, leaving Cincinnati as the only little guy known to have interest:

    • Boston Red Sox
    • New York Yankees
    • Toronto Blue Jays
    • Los Angeles Dodgers
    • New York Yankees
    • and the little Cincinnati Reds

    As of 1am 12/17/24, it is now known that Teoscar Hernandez is seeking a deal worth 60 Million guaranteed and for at LEAST 3 years. That makes the Reds even more of a player here. It will take some recruiting to land Teoscar Hernandez, but he could definitely come to Cincinnati and become a legend while helping the Reds win games. If you’re on Instagram, follow @Nati_Sports and then go tag Teoscar Hernandez and tell him to come to Cincinnati!

    Bengals Take Down the Titans In Turnover-Fest

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    There have been a lot of ugly Bengals games this year. Mostly it’s been Cincinnati fans that have been pulling their hair out in frustration. Today, though, any Tennessee fans who made it to the stadium today likely don’t have any left to pull. While it wasn’t much prettier but we managed to come away with a 37-27 win.

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    First Half

    The Bengals first drive was doomed from the start. A false start pushed the team back before the first play could even materialize. Then Joe Burrow threw one of his few uncharacteristically bad interceptions on a pass over the middle. Cochran’s man beat him to apply pressure on Burrow which certainly didn’t help. 

    The Titans, their own offense having struggled all year, made the Bengals pay. Tony Pollard smashed it in on the ground and gave the Titans a 7-0 lead. It was a display of bully ball with a short field that continued to demonstrate the defensive fragility the Bengals have faced all year. 

    The Bengals responded with a deep drive into Titan territory. It included a precise dime to Ja’Marr Chase on a slant for a huge gain. Chase Brown had some strong runs of his own to keep the drive going. 

    But the play of the game came when Joe Burrow worked his magic in the pocket to evade nearly the entire Titans defense. He scrambled for almost ten seconds to buy enough time to hit Brown in the end zone for an equalizer and tie the game at 7. 

    And of course Tyler Boyd hit a big reception on the following drive after the Bengals brought pressure on third and long. Then, a questionable pass interference pushed the ball inside the 10. Tyjae Spears scored on a short touchdown run to reclaim the lead a few plays later. The Bengals’ defense once again failed to capitalize on Titans penalties and made costly mistakes to give away free yardage and put Tennessee in very advantageous positions to score. 

    On offense next the Bengals overcame an illegal formation penalty that cost them a first down. Burrow kept his composure and hit Mike Gesicki for a big play on third down. Yet more Joe Burrow pocket magic led to a toss up throw to Chase Brown that put the Bengals inside the 10. The mojo ran out on the following play unfortunately as Burrow was sacked and fumbled the ball. Tennessee scooped up the ball and returned it, with T’Vondre Sweat throwing in a massive stiff arm to Alex Cappa in the process. 

    This time, faced with a change of possession the Bengals fared infinitely better. The line put Will Levis under significant pressure. It ultimately lead to a bruising sack by Trey Hendrickson and a fumble that was recovered by Maema Njongmeta. It was one of the handful of times this year that Cincinnati‘s defense answered the call. And it came in a big situation as it denied Tennessee the potential to go up multiple scores. 

    Then it was time for Chase Brown and the offensive line to take charge. The Bengals moved the football on the ground behind more tough running, including by Ja’Marr Chase. They took the ball deep into Titan territory and another clutch reception by Uno got the ball inside of the five and on the doorstep. Then in one of the most inexplicable plays of the entire season, Burrow uncorked a beautiful pass to Sam Hubbard of all people to tie it at 14. After so many linemen catching touchdown passes against Cincinnati this year it was nice to finally pull off one of our own. 

    After Tennessee got the ball back, Will Levis threw a dart directly to Cam Taylor-Britt. The much maligned defensive back took the ball back inside Titan territory and was understandably as fired up as any player in the league after what he’s been through. 

    The momentum had clearly shifted as the Bengals took over. After few plays, Joe Burrow took a massive hit in the pocket. But he was able to launch a beautiful pass to Tee Higgins for a 38 yard touchdown. Higgins absorbed a shot of his own to hold on to the ball and give Cincinnati a seven point lead. 

    After the touchdown, Levis took the field and promptly threw yet another interception. This time to Mike Hilton. The Bengals marched down the field and were inside of the ten yard line, but simply ran out of time. They settled for a nice Cade York field goal to head into halftime.


    Second Half

    Coming out of the second half the Bengals defense contained the Titans and forced a punt. But Burrow’s second interception of the day on a throw into double coverage gave the ball right back. 

    Tennessee’s possession didn’t last very long though as Will Levis’ nightmare day continued. He threw yet another disastrous interception. This one Geno Stone took back to the house for a pick six and extended the lead. 

    After Levis’ third pick, Titans head coach Brian Callahan had seen enough. Mason Rudolph entered the game just in time for Christmas to take over at quarterback. The backup marched Tennessee down the field admirably before Tony Pollard fumbled. In what has come to encapsulate an awful season in defense, after returning the fumble more than half the field, and on the doorstep of the goal line, Jordan Battle forgot to hold onto the football and fumbled it out of the back of the end zone. Even when they make amazing plays, Cincinnati’s defensive players find shocking new ways to fail.

    The Bengals secondary struggled after this mental error. They once again had several penalties that gave Tennessee both free yards and first downs. Despite the gifts, Rudolph felt like giving one of his own. He air mailed a pass that Josh Newton picked off for Tennessee’s fourth interception of the game.

    Cincinnati put a decent drive together but ultimately punted. On the subsequent drive it was clear that the Bengals were giving up anything short and the Titans took advantage. Tyjae Spears caught one if those short passes and juked his way to a 17 yard touchdown to draw within ten.

    Now with some pressure back on them the offense took the field and delivered. Tee Higgins made yet another tough catch on third down. Chase Brown sliced and diced for some nice runs. The drive then became more about eating clock and draining the Titans of their timeouts. It ended in a Chase Brown backbreaker of a rushing touchdown that sealed the game.

    Final Numbers and Thoughts

    The Bengals received some pretty bleak news before the game began. With Orlando Brown Jr. out already, the team revealed that backup tackle Cody Ford was also inactive due to illness. That left Cincinnati to rely on third string lineman Devin Cochran, who played only one career snap prior to Sunday’s game.  Cochran struggled mightily in the first quarter, giving up two early pressures on Burrow. Overall the line played well enough to win and Cochran’s name wasn’t called in a negative way too often after the first quarter.

    Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns. He now holds the Bengals franchise record for touchdowns in a season. Chase had 9 catches for 94 yards. Higgins added 5 catches for 88 yards. Chase Brown continued to impress, rushing 25 times for 97 yards.

    With their playoff hopes still with the dimmest sign of life the Bengals will take on the Cleveland Browns next week. Cleveland lost 21-7 to the Chiefs this week.

    Cincinnati Beats Xavier In Crosstown Shootout For The First Time In 5 Years 68-65

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    cincinnati bearcats vs xavier muskeets

    It’s been awhile, and Wes Miller’s Bearcats desperately needed a statement win against their rivals in Norwood, and finally…they pulled it out. Xavier vs Cincinnati started looking a lot like Kentucky-Louisville of late: very one sided. Cincinnati fans finally have reason to celebrate, this one belongs to them.

    Musketeers Shoot Themselves In The Foot Down The Stretch

    Xavier, even in their coach Sean Miller’s own words, “shot themselves in the foot and beat themselves,” X had a total of 14 turnovers on the game. The Bearcats took advantage of them, to say the least. Miller went onto say, “It’s hard to beat UC when you’re playing them and yourselves, the turnovers killed us. We’re a team that simply can’t finish right now.” Pretty harsh words from their coach.

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    A Brick House Was Built From Downtown

    No, literally. Both teams shot putrid from behind the arc. Xavier was 6 for 19 from 3, and Cincinnati was 5 for 20. 3 of UC’s conversions came from the bench, whereas Xavier’s starting 5 provided most of the support with Conwell and Foster leading the way.

    If you’re box score watching, both teams shot 37.9% from the field, so the game was very balanced for the most part. X shot 9 less free throws than Cincinnati did and took advantage of the charity stripe, 15-17 from the line. Cincinnati on the other hand, was 19-26.

    Depth Won This Game For The Cats

    Xavier’s lack of depth really showed today against the Bearcats in Fifth Third Arena, Sean Miller only played 8 guys through the whole 40 minutes of play. Wes Miller, on the other side, played 10, and got production from his bench, unlike Xavier. Miller’s Bearcats got 19 points off their bench to Xavier’s 9.

    Zach Freemantle lead the way for the Musketeers in scoring 18, as Simas Lukosious lead the way for the Bearcats scoring 14. This duo was both very bad from 3. The Bearcats had 6 steals and converted on the offensive side. That won them the game. The Cincinnati Bearcats got a much needed win today and are looking like they have enough depth to make it far into March.

    FA Analysis: Randal Grichuk To The Reds?

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    Randal Grichuk

    The Reds went to Winter Meetings searching for outfielders whether it be trade or free agency. President of Baseball Ops Nick Krall stated on Thursday of this past week while wrapping up Winter Meetings that he had felt he had more discussions with teams than he did with free agents.

    When It’s Time To Pivot

    After awhile, if trades aren’t working, and teams aren’t willing to take your offer, or worse, you aren’t willing to include additional prospect(s) or pieces, it’s time to pivot. That’s why we’re creating this article, we want to look at who can fit should the Reds HAVE to pivot to a free agent, which sometimes isn’t the worst case scenario. We’re building out realistic options, Randal Grichuk fits the ‘realistic’ category, and one that makes a whole lot of sense, especially monetarily.

    Randal Grichuk Reds
    FIRST LOOK: Grok AI Generated look at Randal Grichuk in a Reds uniform. This is AI generated, and not real.

    How Does Randal Grichuk Fit?

    The Reds, in need of an OF and on the cheaper spectrum, fits perfectly. They need someone with average defense, and one that can hit. Randal exhumes both of those traits that have been long needed for the Reds. Though way better against LHP, he has shown the ability to hit for power against RHP, too, which primarily piques my interest as Grichuk would likely not be an everyday player, and that trait is very valuable to employ off the bench.

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    This is some great production in a limited role leading to less than 300 PAs for the year due to starting a bit late battling his right ankle injury and his role with the Diamondbacks organization. He was worth 2.2 Baseball Reference WAR, and 1.5 FanGraphs WAR. He would’ve been the most productive Reds outfielder, per those numerics. The Reds clearly have an issue hitting LHP, still, granted their bottom 10 offense against it, and Randal would plug perfectly in.

    One of my favorite “metrics” to use and fantasize about is expected Homerun per park (xHR). Per statcast. Randal Grichuk would’ve hit 19 homeruns in GABP versus his 12 actual. That right there gives some insight on what we could expect from Grichuk should he play at GABP 81 games (and, hopefully, more) at GABP. 20% of his hits in 2024 in limited roles went for extra bases, 20 doubles, 2 triples, and 12 homers.

    So What Will He Cost?

    Randal opted out of his $6,000,000 guaranteed from the Arizona Diamondbacks, signaling his desire to lock up more than that, and he will get more than that, in my opinion. As of now, the only team publicly in on Grichuk are the Orioles. It’s unknown if they’ve offered him or not yet. It’s also worth mentioning that as of now, the Reds are not known to be “in” on him, and that could be corroborated with the fact that Nick Krall even mentioned that he spent more time talking to other teams about trades than he did with agents discussing free agency players.

    The market has not been set for role players, so putting a guestimate on Randal is all we can do here:

    Randal Grichuk

    Total Contract: $13,000,000 guaranteed, potential $21,000,000

    2025: $6,500,000

    2026: $6,000,000

    2027: Mutual Opt – $8,500,000 $500k buyout

    Reds Leave Winter Meetings With “Links” But…Nothing Else

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    Nick Krall cincinnati Reds

    Another MLB Winter Meetings have passed where the Cincinnati Reds have not signed anyone. As of Friday the 13th of December, which just so happens to be a full moon night, that remains true, the Cincinnati Reds still have not signed anyone in free agency. They are, however, linked to multiple players which we’ll label in this article alongside some trades that could happen. Subscribe to our Newsletter at the bottom of this article!

    What Players Have They “Checked In” On?

    There’s been several linkings to players for the Reds. A few that make sense, a few that are…questionable in nature, and some that probably happened that we don’t even know about. The first one of relevance is Luis Robert Jr. Last June, I wrote about the potential there was for the Reds to trade for Luis Robert Jr, here is where I think things hit a stalemate from both sides – the White Sox believe Robert Jr has a lot of value, the Reds do not believe he has that much value. Another issue that we’ve seen when it comes to the Reds is that he has $55,000,000+ left on his deal, his “cheap” days are over. It would be a tremendous risk to the Reds to trade for him, even though his next 2 years of control are club controlled, they’re at $20,000,000 each. Most franchises wouldn’t bat an eye at those tags, the poor Cincinnati Reds, unfortunately, have to.

    Luis Robert Jr.
    Potential Cincinnati Reds Trade Candidate and current White Sox player Luis Robert Jr

    Backup Catcher Needed, Reds Linked to James McCann

    Perhaps one that makes a lot of sense, James McCann had one of his worst years last year defensively, in fact, almost preposterously bad. He was worth -8 FRV, which was 4 more than Luke Maile, who had a terrible 2024, even had. So is this really an upgrade? I don’t see it. Do I welcome it? Hmm. I think there’s better options out there. I wouldn’t give James McCann $5M for 2 years. I’d rather sign Austin Wynns to a Major League deal before I sought James McCann’s service out. Pass.

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    Cincinnati Crewneck Sweatshirt | The Nati | Comfort & City Pride

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    Reds Check In On Middle Of Rotation Free Agent SP

    On Thursday morning, we learned that the Cincinnati Reds checked in on SP Nick Pivetta. The first thing I asked myself was…why? He isn’t much of a fit, especially with the way that the starting pitching market has gone. Very washed up vets are getting $17,000,000 annually like Alex Cobb did with the Tigers, Frankie Montas got a similar deal, and Pivetta is better than both of those dudes. The point here? If we aren’t spending money, how does this make sense? Some people speculated that the Reds may be forced to trade from their rotation depth, and Pivetta would be one of the better ones left to sign if that were the case.

    Rumors Of Checking In On Teoscar Hernandez

    This one is a little bit of a doozy, too, because it came from a Dodgers fan blog writer. Now, I never discredit without proof, so we’ll take it serious. He reported that the Cincinnati Reds were one of the 4 teams that were checking in on Teoscar Hernandez, joining the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers. There have been several analysts that predicted Teoscar Hernandez to the Reds, not that it means anything, but a lot of those people have sources. The reality is, the Reds will have to spend money to land him. Will they? Eh, yeah, probably not.

    Reds Were A Finalist For Ace

    It was confirmed through multiple sources now, the Reds were one of the 4 finalist for the Chicago White Sox’s ACE Garrett Crochet. Now, usually that will make you pissed off as a fan, it should, but this is a rare scenario where you, as a Reds fan, shouldn’t be mad. No one was meeting that price tag that the Boston Red Sox did. Two top 100 prospects, plus two really promising other pieces that were performing. Craig outdid Nick’s trade with the Mariners with this one – when the Reds traded Luis Castillo. The Red Sox gave up way more than the Mariners did, performance wise.

    Rule 5 Draft: Select Cooper Bowman

    On the final day of MLB Winter Meetings, the Reds ended up surprising me a bit and actually making a selection. The Athletics did not protect Cooper Bowman, and the Reds took advantage of that. He has versatility in the field, having played CF, 2B, and some other infield, and he has a ton of speed, swiping over 43 bags in 2024. He has mashed LHP throughout the minors, as well. Rob Coughlin, the Reds scouting director, has said that he and his team has had very high grades on Cooper all through the minors, and cited his time spent at Louisville, too. The Reds like him, so they’ll end up rostering him and giving him a shot to make the 26 man roster. If he doesn’t, he’ll remain on the 40 man roster in AAA. If they end up having to remove him, they’ll owe the A’s $100,000.

    New Cincinnati Reds OF/IF Cooper Bowman

    Where Are We At Now?

    This article reads negative, but it’s not. The reality is, it’s December the 13th, and there’s a ton of time left to Spring Training 2025. The Winter Meetings aren’t designated for signing players, and they aren’t designated for trading players. They are, however, designated to gauge the price(s) of both – and that’s exactly what the Reds FO did. Now they have the market down, Nick Krall told us he spent more time talking to teams about trading than he did talking with free agents, so it’s clear what route they’re looking to take this year. They want to trade from their excess of talent, and that’s the right thing to do. Let’s hope Nick Krall and Brad Meador can land some talent, we need it. Going to the season with Will Benson as your everyday RF is unacceptable. How about Luis Robert Jr to get us started?

    The Reds Have The 7th Best Odds At The #1 Overall Pick

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    2024 Reds Draft rumors
    2024 Reds Draft rumors

    The MLB Winter Meetings have begun as of Sunday, December 8th at 7:00 PM ET. That means there’s a ton of trade rumors, players are signing free agent deals, there’s a draft coming up soon, and…the reason you clicked this article, we will know the Reds MLB Draft position tomorrow! Woo! Let’s look at their odds.

    Last year Devin Mesoraco pulled off some of the most incredible antics of all time. The Reds went into the draft with less than a 1% chance at the #1 overall pick, and Mes ended up getting lucky and getting us the 2nd overall pick. As of right now, it’s not known who is going to be the Reds representative, but I will, of course, update everyone as soon as we know. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get the news FIRST!

    Cincinnati Crewneck Sweatshirt | The Nati | Comfort & City Pride

    Cincinnati Crewneck Sweatshirt | The Nati | Comfort & City Pride

    Rep your hometown with our **Cincinnati crewneck sweatshirt**—The Nati. Crafted for comfort and style, this unisex heavy-blend crewneck showcases Cincinnati spirit in every stitch. Perfect for Reds, Bengals, or FC Cincinnati fans—or anyone proud to call Cincinnati home. .: Made with a medium-heavy fabric blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)), […]

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    2025’s Odds

    Nothing will be any different than it was in 2024, other than our odds. Considering the Reds landed the 2nd overall pick in a year they were less than 2 games out of the playoff race in, it’s almost unbelievable that we only have a 2.1% chance better this year after another disappointing season. The Reds stand in at 3.67%, aka the 7th best odds in MLB to land the 1st pick.

    The full list looks like this:

    • 22.45% – Colorado Rockies
    • 22.45% – Florida Marlins
    • 17.96% – Anaheim Angels
    • 10.20% – Washington Nationals
    • 7.48% – Toronto Blue Jays
    • 5.31% – Pittsburgh Pirates
    • 3.67% – Cincinnati Reds
    • 2.45% – Texas Rangers
    • 1.90% – San Francisco Giants
    • 1.50% – Tampa Bay Rays
    • 1.22% – Boston Red Sox
    • 1.09% – Minnesota Twins
    • 0.82% – St. Louis Cardinals
    • 0.68% – Chicago Cubs
    • 0.53% – Seattle Mariners
    • 0.27% – Arizona Diamondbacks
    • 0.0 — White Sox – cannot get another lottery pick
    • 0.0 — A’s – Cannot get another lottery pick
    MLB 2025 Draft Lottery Odds Infographic from MLB.com

    Will There Be Magic Again?

    There’s a great reason to believe that the Reds can end up picking inside the top 5 again. I’ll throw caution out there, we know we can’t get lucky too many times in a row, but I like the odds of it happening. Knowing us we’ll get stuck with the 17th overall pick and end up missing out on the next healthy Mike Trout.

    When Is This Happening?

    The MLB Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas as the MLB Winter Meetings goes on. Time: 5PM EsT, 4PM CsT, 3PM MsT, 2PM PsT on MLB Network and streaming live on mlb.com