Cincinnati Reds: 3 surprise non-tender candidates

Will the Reds surprise us with those players they choose to non-tender today?

Today is the deadline for the Cincinnati Reds to tender contracts to both arbitration eligible and pre-arbitration eligible players. A few players like Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, and Amir Garrett are sure-fire locks to make the cut. But, are there any surprises who might be non-tendered today?

The Reds have surprised fans the past two seasons, saying goodbye to Billy Hamilton following the 2018 season and last year non-tendering shortstop José Peraza. Both were good decisions, but it’s doubtful that most fans saw those moves coming. Which players might come as shock if they’re non-tendered today?

1. Jesse Winker, Reds Outfielder

While I don’t expect to see Jesse Winker among those non-tendered today, I would not be shocked. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Winker is likely to make between $2-$3.4M next season. Quite frankly, that’s a bit much for a player who was used almost exclusively as a designated hitter last season.

With the universal DH up in the air heading into the 2021 season, it stands to reason that Cincinnati’s front office may be on fence regarding Winker’s future with the team. He’s yet to complete a full season without spending a prolonged period of time on the injured list and his fielding is sub-par.

There’s also the matter of the Cincinnati Reds overcrowded outfield. After seeing Shogo Akiyama receive consideration for a Gold Glove in left field, you’d have to assume that last year’s free agent acquisition has a leg up on the position. Nick Castellanos and Nick Senzel should fill out the other two-thirds of the outfield, and Aristides Aquino is out of minor league options.

Ultimately, I expect Jesse Winker to be on the team next season and receive a considerable amount of playing time. Winker did, after all, lead all Reds position players in WAR (1.1) and OPS (.932). If Winker was non-tendered today, I’d be surprised, but not shocked.