Reds news: Trade adds right-handed first baseman opposite Joey Votto

Reds newest addition could give Joey Votto time off at first base.

Scott Heineman is the newest member of the Cincinnati Reds. In a trade with Texas Rangers on Wednesday, Cincinnati acquired Heineman’s services in exchange for outfield prospect José Acosta. Heineman’s primary position has been the outfield, but thee 29-year-old also has experience playing first base and could give Joey Votto valuable rest in 2021.

Heineman is not a household name, and one look at his major league statistics isn’t going to wow anyone. The right-handed hitting Heineman has 49 games at the major league level and a slash line of .189/.259/.331 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

Those numbers aren’t going to strike fear into opposing pitchers, though Heineman has a solid track record in the minors. During four minor league seasons, the outfielder/ first baseman hit .303/.378/.475. In 42 games at Triple-A Nashville in 2019, Heineman posted a .966 OPS.

The former Oregon Duck has primarily played the outfield during his college and professional career, but Heineman does have some experience playing first base as well. With Joey Votto’s struggles in recent years, it’s curious to see if David Bell may find way to keep Heineman on the roster as right-handed option opposite Votto.

We saw Cincinnati employ the services of former Chicago White Sox infielder Matt Davidson last season. Davidson found his way into the lineup for 20 games last season, starting two games at first base. More times than not, if Bell needed a replacement at first base, he’d turn to Mike Moustakas. However, like Votto, Moustakas is a left-handed hitter.

Even if Bell doesn’t envision Scott Heineman taking any reps at first base, the former 11th-round pick gives the Reds skipper another right-handed bat in the outfield. Both Jesse Winker and Shogo Akiyama are left-handed hitters, as is Mark Payton.

The Cincinnati Reds designated Phillip Ervin for assignment last season, and Aristides Aquino has yet to match the impressive production he put up during August of 2019. Heineman isn’t a frontrunner for spot on next year’s roster, but he could be a solid addition to the Reds minor leagues.

Heineman has two minor-league options remaining and is under team control for some time. With a lack of depth in Triple-A, at the very least Heineman gives Cincinnati an additional developmental bat. Perhaps Heineman will find his way to the big leagues this season, but a lot will depend on his production in spring training.