Cincinnati Reds: 3 free agent reunions we’d like to see

2. Derek Dietrich, Utility infielder

Don’t get too excited! I’m not advocating for the Cincinnati Reds to bring back Derek Dietrich to save the franchise. He can’t do that. However, in a day and age when power is everything, Dietrich brings a lot of it. In five of the past six seasons, Dietrich has finished with an OPS+ above 100. That lone season where he didn’t reach that plateau was 2019 (99 OPS+) with the Reds.

We all love Dietrich’s theatrics, fun-loving personality, and Ohio roots, but he brings much more than that. Dietrich is a versatile fielder that would certainly give David Bell a quality bat to replace Joey Votto at first base on occasion. Cincinnati traded utility infielder Josh VanMeter to Arizona, so heading into the 2021 season, there is no left-handed power-bat capable of coming off the bench.

Dietrich brings that. Last season, in limited action with the Texas Rangers, Dietrich slashed .197/.347/.459 in 61 at-bats. The stat that sticks out to me in that line is not the sub-.200 batting average (we saw that up and down the Reds lineup last season), the the .347 on-base percentage despite the .197 batting average.

If the Reds brought Derek Dietrich back to the Queen City, Cincinnati would have both the left and right side of the infield covered. Kyle Farmer could hold down the fort when Eugenio Suárez or the Reds shortstop need a day off, and Dietrich could replace Mike Moustakas or Joey Votto if either veteran could use a breather.

If the designated hitter returns in 2021, and there’s a possibility that it could, that offers Dietrich another opportunity to find his way into the lineup. Make no mistake, I’m not advocating that Derek Dietrich be an integral part of the 2021 Cincinnati Reds roster, but the 30-year-old brings versatility, power, and a veteran presence to any ball club.