Cincinnati Reds: Could Billy Hamilton replace Billy Hamilton?

Could the Cincinnati Reds replace Billy Hamilton with Billy Hamilton? Don’t laugh, it’s a serious question. If the price is right, would the Reds bring Billy back in 2019?

Laugh if you will, but I’m serious. Could the Cincinnati Reds really replace Billy Hamilton with Billy Hamilton? Billy was non-tendered last Friday and it came as a shock to a lot of fans. Others were wondering why it didn’t happen a few years ago. Hamilton is a polarizing player, but at the right price, he could be just wha the Reds are looking for.

Look, we all know why Billy’s services weren’t retained. It’s one thing to play a below-average hitter $4.6 million, so long as they provide phenomenal defense, which Hamilton did. It’s another thing to play that same type of player over $6 million, which Billy would’ve received at arbitration.

Albeit unpopular with some fans, the Reds made the right move. That was confirmed when no team was willing to trade, even a prospect, for Hamilton. Billy’s career on-base percentage is below .300. It’s very difficult to justify paying a player $6 million, especially on a National League team, if they can’t reach base routinely.

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Mark Sheldon of Reds.com was previewing some center field options for the Reds this upcoming season. In his piece,Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams described the type of center fielder the club may be looking for. Here’s the quote via Reds.com:

"“It can go one of two ways. You can try to get the defensive specialist that you had [in Hamilton], but you would just try to get him a lower number than we would have been required to go to in arbitration. Or you can pay up for a center fielder and try to get the complete package that you want. I think we’re open to either avenue.”"

Read into that what you will, but I get the feeling that the Reds might not be done with Billy Hamilton. Look, Billy Hamilton was the not the biggest reason the Cincinnati Reds have 90-plus games the past 4 years. Granted, his performance at the plate didn’t help, but starting pitching has been the Achilles heel with this team since the rebuild began.

The Reds ownership, front office, etc. have all said that they’re going to get the pitching, and I believe they will. What that looks like, I don’t know. But, any pitcher would love to have a player like Billy Hamilton behind him making the types of plays we know only Billy can make.

Would the Reds be best served to drop a four-year contract on a player like A.J. Pollock, or bring back Billy on a one-year contract? A one-year contract for Hamilton might allow the Reds to pursue a player like Dallas Keuchel or Nathan Eovaldi in free agency, plus a second starter like Matt Harvey or Lance Lynn.

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With players like Taylor Trammell and Jose Siri coming up quickly through the farm system, it’s only a matter of time before the entire Reds outfield is transformed. Rather than spend frivolously on a center fielder this offseason, couldn’t the Reds just bring back Billy on an inexpensive one-year deal and spend the excess money on the starting rotation?

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