Reds news: Game of musical shortstops continues with Freddy Galvis deal

According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the Baltimore Orioles signed former Cincinnati shortstop Freddy Galvis to a one-year deal, assuring that the Reds will have a new Opening Day shortstop on April 1st versus the St. Louis Cardinals.

For the past year-plus, the Cincinnati Reds have run out Freddy Galvis as the team’s starting shortstop. The front office made the move to acquire Galvis back in 2019 and inserted him into the lineup as the team’s second baseman after the trade of Scooter Gennett.

The Reds will have a new starting shortstop in 2021.

This latest news confirms what most of us already knew; the Reds will have a new starting shortstop in 2021. Cincinnati has been linked to free agents Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien, and Andrelton Simmons throughout the offseason.

It also continues the game of musical shortstops that started earlier this offseason after the Baltimore Orioles picked up José Iglesias’ team-option. Baltimore then promptly traded the defensive wizard to the Los Angeles Angels who chose not to pursue free agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons this offseason.

Oddly enough, Iglesias was the Reds starting shortstop in 2019, but Cincinnati’s front office, fearing the former Detroit Tiger would try to break the bank following a successful season, decided to pick up Freddy Galvis’ $5M team-option last offseason and allowed Iglesias to enter the free agent market.

Iglesias latched on to the Baltimore Orioles for a one-year/$3M contract and had a career-year during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Iglesias hit .373/.400/.556 with a career-high OPS+ of 160. With Iglesias now in LA and Galvis in Baltimore, will Simmons end up in Cincinnati.

The latest Reds rumors suggest that Cincinnati, along with the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays are in the mix for the four-time Gold Glove-winner. Marcus Semien is rumored to be the target of the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers. The shortstop market is starting to move, and the Reds need to be sure they’re not left behind.

The possibility still exists for the Cincinnati Reds to enter the 2021 season with José García as the starting shortstop. But, while García has the defensive chops to be the team’s everyday shortstop, he still some seasoning at the minor leagues to bring his bat up to speed with his glove.