Cincinnati Reds: 3 free agents to avoid this offseason

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 26: Jurickson Profar #10 of the San Diego Padres looks on before the game. The Reds should avoid signing Profar this offseason. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

These three free agents should not get a call from the Reds front office.

The Cincinnati Reds spent big last offseason and didn’t get much from their most expensive free agent class in franchise history. The Reds spent over $125M to bring in Nick Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama, Pedro Strop, and Wade Miley. This offseason looks to be bit leaner in terms in spending, but Cincinnati mush avoid signing these three players.

Trevor Bauer is sure to be the Cincinnati Reds No. 1 target this offseason. Likely to receive the Cy Young Award this evening, Bauer may be the most sought-after free agent starter on the market. The Reds are in good position to re-sign Bauer, as the 29-year-old enjoys his teammates and likes playing for pitching coach Derek Johnson.

However, the price tag for Trevor Bauer might be too rich for Cincinnati’s blood. If that’s the case, the team has some internal options (Tejay Antone and Michael Lorenzen) that can help fill the void. That said, Cincinnati has more holes if the the hope to compete for a spot in the postseason next year. Adding a few bats this winter may not be out of the realm of possibilities.

While names like DJ LeMahieu and J.T. Realmuto are tantalizing, the only way I see the Reds spending big this offseason is if they re-sign Bauer. However, some free agents who may seem like a bargain could wind up being a nightmare. The Cincinnati Reds should avoid signing these three free agents at all costs.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 04:Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox returns to the dugout during. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. Jackie Bradley Jr., Outfielder

There were rumors last offseason of the Cincinnati Reds interest in adding a centerfielder. Eventually, Shogo Akiyama signed a three-year deal, but the Japanese outfielder saw more time in left field than center. Nick Senzel was on the injured list more than he was on the field in 2020, but the Reds should still avoid pursuing Jackie Bradley Jr. at all costs.

To be fair, Bradley Jr. had a fantastic bounce-back season following an atrocious 2019 campaign. After hitting .225/.317/.421 in 2019, Bradley Jr. rebounded in 2020 with a slash line of .283/.364/.450 while smacking seven home runs and racking up 22 RBIs. Bradley’s defense even improved. After putting up -2 defensive runs saved in 2019, last year Bradley recorded 5 DRS.

Still, the former Gold Glove Award winner need not be on Nick Krall’s shortlist. First, while Bradley played well over the pandemic-shortened season, heading into last year, Bradley was a career .236 with a .317 on-base percentage. The last thing Cincinnati needs is another quiet bat after finishing last in batting average last season.

Furthermore, while the Reds may not have center field figured out, the team has more than enough outfielders on the 40-man roster. Nick Senzel’s health should certainly be a concern for the Cincinnati front office, but Akiyama is quite capable of fielding the position and was a finalist for a Gold Glove this season. Hard pass on Jackie Bradley Jr.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 06: Jurickson Profar #10 of the San Diego Padres warms up in the on-deck circle. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. Jurickson Profar, Infielder

Baseball’s former No. 1 prospect is looking for another address, again. The abbreviated season saw Jurickson Profar put up career-highs in batting average (.278), on-base percentage (.343), and OPS+ (113). But the Cincinnati Reds should not bite on Profar’s tantalizing skillset, as the 27-year-old has never been able to put it all together over a full season.

After being that “can’t miss” prospect prior to the 2013 season, Profar never saw the field from 2014-2015. Five subpar years with the Texas Rangers led to Profar’s next stop in Oakland where things didn’t get much better. Profar put together a solid season for the San Diego Padres last year, but the Reds should steer clear of the utility infielder.

While Profar has experience at shortstop, Cincinnati would be better off with a player like Kyle Farmer playing the position. Profar has a .953 career-fielding percentage and -5 career DRS according to FanGraphs. Profar is little more than a utility player who may be able to land a contract upwards of $5M next season. MLB Trade Rumors projects Profar to sign for $7M.

Signing Jurickson Profar would be redundant, as Cincinnati has Farmer under team control for several more years and he’s arguably a better overall player. Profar’s 2020 campaign will likely net him a contract, but 180 at-bats does not a career make. Profar was responsible for 1.1 WAR last season, but in his previous six major league seasons, Profar accounted for just 2.7 WAR.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to a ground ball. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Andrelton Simmons, Shortstop

Some fans may think that any addition at shortstop would be an upgrade for the Cincinnati Reds entering the 2021 season. Think again. Adding Andrelton Simmons would be a mistake. A Gold Glover in the past, Simmons’ defense was below-average in 2020 and his bat has never been his calling card.

If the Reds are looking to upgrade the shortstop position this offseason, there are better choices than Simmons. Simmons, who opted out during the final week of the 2020 season, played in just 30 games last year for the Los Angeles Angels. His slash line (.297/.346/.356) is solid, but anyone can put together a good month at the plate; just ask Jesse Winker.

Adding Simmons, on the surface, would appear to be a good move at least from a defensive perspective, right? Well, the four-time Gold Glove Award winner was not himself last season. After owning 193 defensive runs saved throughout his career, according to FanGraphs, Simmons accounted for -2 DRS in 2020.

Next. 5 times Reds players missed out on the Cy Young

An ankle injury cost Andrelton Simmons nearly 60 games in 2019 after he suffered a Grade 3 sprain in May and then re-aggravated the injury later that summer. Even before the season began, the ankle was giving Simmons problems once again. The last thing Cincinnati’s front office wants to do this offseason is invest in a player who may not be able to find his way onto the field.

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