The Cincinnati Reds have been aggressive this offseason, but it appears they’re not done yet. The latest Reds rumors suggest they’re after Corey Dickerson.
Jon Heyman, an insider at MLB Network, provides us with the latest Reds rumors. It appears as though, despite the additions of Mike Moustakas and Wade Miley, the Cincinnati Reds are not yet finished adding players to next year’s roster. Heyman listed off several potential players that the Reds front office has its eye on, including free agent outfielder Corey Dickerson.
Every fan knows by now that the Cincinnati Reds have a heavy interest in adding an additional bat to its lineup. Marcell Ozuna, Nicholas Castellanos, and Kole Calhoun have all been mentioned in recent Reds rumors. However, this is the first instance that we’ve heard Dickerson’s name come up.
Given the price tag associated with the likes of Ozuna and Castellanos, Dickerson may be the smart option. Ozuna and Castellanos have been rumored to be looking for a contract similar to that of Moustakas, but Dickerson’s price tag is believed to be much less. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Dickerson is predicted to land a two-year/$15M deal.
To be honest, Dickerson makes a lot sense beyond just the financial aspects. Corey Dickerson is an above-average fielder and has a career-OPS of .832, which is higher than both Ozuna and Castellanos. Dickerson suffered through some injuries last season, but the previous three years played in 433 games, snagging a Gold Glove and going to an All-Star Game in the process.
Dickerson has plenty of familiarity in left field, which would be the likely destination for any free agent outfielder to play if they sign with Cincinnati. The Reds could them form a platoon with the left-handed hitting Jesse Winker and last year’s breakout rookie Aristides Aquino. Both Winker and Aquino have question marks, so adding another outfielder would help alleviate such concerns.
Heyman also mentions Calhoun, who was rumored to be drawing Cincinnati’s interest during the Winter Meetings last week. Calhoun and Castellanos are more familiar with right field, while Dickerson and Ozuna have primarily played in left.
Corey Dickerson would be another nice addition to next year’s Cincinnati Reds team. With Avisail Garcia signing with the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, the outfield market is likely to heat up. We’re likely to continue to see several Reds rumors over the next few days, or at least until Cincinnati signs another bat.