Reds: 5 non-tender candidates Cincinnati could target this offseason

3. Niko Goodrum would fill the Reds hole at shortstop.

Niko Goodrum is a solid defensive shortstop with decent pop in his bat. In 43 games for the Detroit Tigers last season, Goodrum was not up to par. The switch-hitter slashed .184/.263/.335 with only five home runs and 20 RBIs. Goodrum is estimated to take home about $1.6M via arbitration, which may be a bit too rich for the Tigers’ blood.

Enter the Cincinnati Reds, who are nothing short of desperate to add a shortstop this offseason. The problem the Reds face that those who are currently available are likely out of Cincinnati’s price range. Andrelton Simmons, Didi Gregorius, and Marcus Semien are all likely to take home eight-figure deals.

With Cincinnati’s current financial outlook for 2021 likely to put the payroll around $130M, it’s hard to see Nick Krall and the Reds front office chasing one of those free agent targets. A player like Goodrum, however, may come much cheaper and the Reds have the luxury of offering him a boatload of playing time.

Freddy Galvis is a free agent, José García needs more seasoning in the minor leagues, and the team’s best in-house option is former catcher Kyle Farmer. Now, I’m a huge fan of Farmer, but if the Reds go into 2021 with Farmer as their primary shortstop, the front office has failed miserably.

It’s quite possible that Niko Goodrum is on the Detroit Tigers Opening day roster. The past two seasons, Goodrum put up a .745 OPS and played visually every position on the field. Goodrum’s 38.5% strikeout-rate, according to FanGraphs, could be cause for concern. But, at this point, the Reds cannot afford to be choosy.