Cincinnati Reds: Time to part ways with Billy Hamilton

Billy Hamilton is among the most exciting players in baseball.  His world-class speed on the base paths and in the outfield produce highlights on an almost nightly basis.  However, for the Cincinnati Reds to improve they must part ways with Hamilton.

Billy Hamilton has a skill set that can be a difference maker in October. His defense is second to none and his speed is a unique gift.  Those skills are best utilized as a fourth outfielder for a pennant contender. Unfortunately, the Cincinnati Reds are not a pennant contender in their current version and they see Hamilton as an everyday fixture in centerfield.

The speedy outfielder is entering his third and final year of arbitration. Hamilton’s slash line of .236/.299/.327 in 2018 cost the Reds $4.6 million in salary.  Not only was he woeful at the plate, but he stole only 34 bases which is his fewest total in a full season and 25 less than he swiped during the 2017 season. Despite these numbers, the way the arbitration system works, it’s not unrealistic to see Hamilton receiving a pay raise in the range to $6-$7 million for the 2019 season.

If you’re the Cincinnati Reds, those dollars can easily be better spent elsewhere. It’s no secret the starting rotation needs at least two established arms to make the unit even respectable.  How do the Reds achieve this goal? By opening the checkbook.

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Enticing top level hurlers to consider the Reds and making half their starts in the hitting paradise known as Great American Ballpark is a conundrum for the franchise.  In order to do this, the team will need to likely overpay for any free agent starting pitcher willing to make his home in the Queen City.

To call Great American Ballpark homer-friendly is being kind. Ideally, the Reds will be able to attract a ground ball oriented starter to take the hill every fifth day.  Which brings us back to Hamilton.

Billy’s skills are perfect for a big outfield where he can run down balls in the gaps. Just the sort of park GABP is not. If the Reds focus on bringing in more groundball inducing starters one of Hamilton’s greatest assets will be muted.

So the question becomes who plays centerfield?  Believe it or not, the Reds have options. Uber-prospect Nick Senzel will be getting reps in the outfield in Spring Training. Several scouts believe he’s athletic enough to handle the position.  The team also has Scott Schebler, Phillip Ervin and Jose Peraza who all have experience in center.

For anyone who watches how other top National League teams play they will instantly recognize the importance of position flexibility.  The NL champion Dodgers had four players log playing time of at least 25 games in centerfield last season while the Cubs had three players share the position. The Reds had one.  Cincinnati must approach the game differently to succeed.  New manager David Bell must find a way of getting his best eight offensive players in the starting line-up.

If the Cincinnati Reds are serious about taking a major step forward in 2019 they need to apply every dollar possible to bolstering the starting rotation and saying farewell to Billy Ball.