Cincinnati Reds: Minor league signings add depth to roster

The Cincinnati Reds have yet to announce the signing of Shogo Akiyama, but have made a few minor league deals that help will add depth to the roster.

While the Cincinnati Reds have reportedly signed Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama to a three-year deal and are rumored to be after Marcell Ozuna, that hasn’t stopped the club from making some minor league deal that will help add depth to the team heading into 2020.

Yesterday, the Reds signed third baseman Matt Davidson to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Just days earlier, Cincinnati had agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Tyler Thornburg as well. Neither Davidson or Thornburg are impact signing, but add a level of insurance to the Reds.

Davidson was not on a major league roster last season, spending the entire year with the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate. Davidson was not shy about his power, putting up a .527 slugging percentage and mashing 33 home runs for the Nashville Sounds of the Pacific Coast League.

With Cincinnati having let go of José Peraza, should Eugenio Suárez be forced to miss any time due to injury next season, the third base position is void of any power. Sure, Mike Moustakas could slide over to man the position should the occasion arise, but he was brought to Cincinnati to be the team’s second baseman.

Matt Davidson spent the 2013 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but found a home with the Chicago White Sox from 2016-2018. For a two year stretch in the Windy City, Davidson displayed some power, smashing 46 homers from 2017-2018, but he failed to get on base. The right-handed hitter had just a .291 on-base percentage during those two seasons in Chicago.

Tyler Thornburg threw in just 18.2 innings last season for the Boston Red Sox. Thornburg played in 25 games the year before, putting up an ERA of 5.63. Thornburg, previously of the Milwaukee Brewers, was an outstanding reliever with a career-ERA of 2.87 before his trade to Boston. However, surgery during 2017 for thoracic outlet syndrome, slowed his trajectory.

What Davidson and Thornburg offer the Cincinnati Reds beyond depth at the Triple-A level is debatable, but some minor-league deals offer more than expected. Last season, the Reds signed both Derek Dietrich and José Iglesias to minor-league contracts, and both players were key parts of the Reds success in 2019.