Cincinnati Reds’ Blake Wood is perfect…for another team

The Cincinnati Reds signed Blake Wood when there was little other interest and he is still with them.

The Cincinnati Reds’ signing of Blake Wood was a bit of a surprise when it happened.  The Kansas City Royals drafted Wood all the way back in 2006 in the third round.  He didn’t make his MLB debut until four years later.

In 106 games in 2010 and 2011 for the Royals Wood had 20 holds and threw 119 1/3 innings.  Wood struck out 93, but had WHIPs above 1.40 both seasons.  He missed the entire 2012 season with a torn UCL.

As a Cleveland Indian, he looked promising when came aboard as a September call up in 2013.  He only pitched in two games in 2013 and seven more in 2014 allowing five runs in 7 2/3 innings.  He was optioned to the minors on April 21, 2014, and didn’t pitch in the majors again until 2016.

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On June 2, 2014, the Royals claimed Wood off of waivers and assigned him to their minor leagues.  At the end of September Wood refused an assignment and elected free agency.  During the off-season he signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wood spent the 2015 season as the closer for the Pirates’ Triple-A team.  He saved 29 games in 34 chances.  He also struck out 70 batters in 58 2/3 innings.

Following the 2015 season, the Cincinnati Reds signed Blake Wood to a major league deal despite his injury and performance history.

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In 2014 Manager Bryan Price took the blame for the bullpen collapsing down the stretch.  In 2015 the blame went to the talent.  So for 2016, the Reds added Blake Wood and Ross Ohlendorf.

Wood is still with the Reds, but Ohlendorf is pitching in Japan.  Wood was brought in to be a middle of the inning reliever.  That role is currently shared by Drew Storen and Wandy Peralta.

That makes Wood expendable and his roster spot better used by someone else.

His ideal role is either that middle of the inning reliever or a single inning low leverage reliever on a contender.  On the Reds his spot needs to go to someone young.

With the high cost of relief pitching right now, the Reds should move Wood this off-season if he attracts any interest at all.  Last off-season Brett Cecil, who had similar secondary numbers as a left-hander, was the big free agent signing of the Saint Lous Cardinals.

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The Reds have a list of decisions to make this off-season.  Wood is one of those decisions.  With the Reds’ rebuild still ongoing, Wood probably fits perfectly, on another team.