Cincinnati Reds FanSided Winter Meetings Simulation – Free Agency

With the Cincinnati Reds done collecting prospects at the FanSided Winter Meetings Simulation, the focus turned towards free agency.

The Cincinnati Reds top priority in free agency is someone that can play shortstop everyday.  In the simulation Zack Cozart was a possibility.  He didn’t last long.

In the simulation Cozart signed with the Los Angeles Angels for 4 years at $56-million.  In real life it ended up being three years at $38-million plus incentives.  Infielders just were getting more in the simulation.

With Cozart out of the Reds’ range, even after trading Devin Mesoraco, the team began free agency by re-signing Drew Storen to a minor league deal.  He can hang out with the team while he rehabilitates from Tommy John surgery.  His 2017 was fine until the injury began to show.

After re-signing Storen, the Reds re-signed Scott Feldman in the simulation to a one-year deal.  The Reds appear about 30 starts short on the forty man roster.  With Ariel Miranda traded for Brad Miler, the Reds needed a swing veteran and found Feldman.

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With the young pitchers and outfielders on the horizon, the roster was mostly set.  The only issue left was shortstop where Jose Peraza was backed by Brad Miller.  Something needed to be done, as both are better bench players.

The Cincinnati Reds signed Eduardo Nunez to a two-year deal worth $14-million at the FanSided Winter Meetings Simulation.

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Eduardo Nunez is a .282 lifetime hitter with an OPS of .735.  His career OBP is .320, making him a potential lead-off hitter.  His .415 slugging is expected with a middle infielder.

Nunez is a versatile player as well.  He played everywhere in the field, except for center field and first base, in 2017.  For the Reds he would be limited to the left side of the infield.

For Reds’ fans Nunez is a bit like Chris Stynes.  He is a fringe MLB starter, but a plus bench player.  His only weakness is that he is average defensively.

Compared to Cozart, Nunez is better across the board offensively, except that he has a touch less power than Cozart.  Nunez is also only above average at third.  However, much like most MLB players, everywhere else beside his primary position, he is just OK.

Next: FanSided Winter Meetings Simulation - Trading Devin Mesoraco

The signing of Nunez also allows the Reds play whichever young players are ready at their natural positions.  However, Nunez can bat and play wherever they need help for a season or two.  Much like the trade for Brad Miller, the signing of Nunez allows the Reds to keep him or flip the player for more prospects at a later time.