Cincinnati Reds have let over priced veterans leave

The Cincinnati Reds have shown no patience for over-paying players just because of name recognition.

Whether it was via free agency or trades, the Cincinnati Reds are rebuilding with young players.  They have traded every player that they deemed too expensive to keep.  That has resulted in Joey Votto and Homer Bailey playing with a bunch of young players.

Many start the list with Johnny Cueto, but it began earlier than that.  The Reds traded Ryan Hanigan and let Bronson Arroyo walk via free agency.  That happened following the 2013 season, the same year Dusty Baker left.

The change came in 2015.  They were facing free agency for Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake.  They traded away both players in separate deals.

During that off-season, the Reds traded reigning home run derby champion Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox.  Frazier looked like the foundation of the next generation.  Since the trade, though, he has looked old and tired.

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Jay Bruce is another example of Reds country missing someone because of his name recognition.  Bruce was traded during the 2016 season for a minor leaguer in Dilson Herrera.  Herrerra has yet to play in Cincinnati.

Of course, Aroldis Chapman leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.  The Reds traded him when he was having domestic issues.  They players the Reds got in return haven’t been of much help.

The truth is that the Cincinnati Reds are better off with the players they have now than some of the veterans that left.

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The biggest name added from those players is All-Star left fielder Adam Duvall.  He came over as PART of the Mike Leake deal.  Now he is a corner stone of the rebuild.

Speaking of parts,  Brandon Finnegan and Cody Reed came over as parts of the Johnny Cueto deal.  They both look likely to spend 2018 in the bullpen, but Finnegan has already shown that he can start every fifth day if needed.

Don’t forget about the return for Todd Frazier.  The 2018 Opening Day shortstop and right fielder  came back for Frazier.

Whether either one of them are long term starters is debatable, but both have proven themselves as legitimate MLB players, while Frazier’s contract may have kept the Reds from holding on to any of these other veterans..

Even the Chapman deal may pay off.  Rookie Davis made the rotation to start 2017.  If he can have a long career or return something else in trade, the deal could still pan out.

Next: The Reds continue to make savvy signings

The Reds need to trade overpriced veterans.  Devin Mesoraco comes to mind right now.  Players like that take money away from development signing affordable veterans to contract extensions.