Reds should take a flyer on former Top 100 prospect Jake Bauers

Nothing  ventured, nothing gained, right? What do the Cincinnati Reds have to lose? Former Top 100 prospect Jake Bauers was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians. Though he’s fallen woefully short of expectations, the Reds need depth at first base at signing Bauers to a minor-league contract is a no-brainer.

Beggars can’t be choosers, and Cincinnati is desperate for depth at first base. Four players who’ve suited for the Reds at first base this season (Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas, Alex Blandino, and Max Schrock) are all currently on the injured list. Votto is expected back soon, but signing Bauers is doing nothing but adding depth to the Reds’ most under-staffed position.

Adding Jake Bauers would increase the Reds depth at first base.

No, Jake Bauers is not the elite-level player many projected him to be after being dealt from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Cleveland Indians prior to the 2019 season. After a rookie season that saw the left-handed hitting Bauers slash .201/.316/.384, he’s fallen off a cliff. In the past two seasons, Bauers has played 160 games and hit just .218/305/.352.

However, do the Reds have many other options? With Alex Blandino now likely to miss a month or more with a broken bone in his hand, Cincinnati is incredibly thin at first base. Yes, Votto will be back any day now, but the team still lacks depth at first base.

Cincinnati recently dismissed both Nicky Delmonico and Cheslor Cuthbert, leaving a void at first base in the minor leagues. Votto received his first start at first base for the Louisville Bats last night, which is welcome news for Reds fans.

The regular starter for Triple-A Louisville will likely be Michael De Leon who was just recently called up from Double-A Chattanooga. De Leon hit well for Lookouts, owning a .316/.381/.526 slash line, but the switch-hitter is slashing just .133/.212/.400 in 15 games with the Bats.

What do the Reds have to lose if they add Jake Bauers?

Jake Bauers has not lived up to the lofty expectations heaped onto the shoulders of the former Top 100 prospect. In 2017, Bauers was ranked as the No. 73-rated prospect in in the minors, according to MLB Pipeline. That rating put Bauers ahead of the likes of Jesse Winker, Justus Sheffield, Brandon Woodruff, and Tyler O’Neill, so the talent is there.

Bauers has a career WAR of -0.7 and a career OPS+ of just 81. So, to this point in his career, Bauers would be considered a fringe major leaguer at best. However, given the numerous injuries Cincinnati has incurred through the first two-plus months of the season, is there any risk in bringing Bauers onboard?

Provided the Cincinnati Reds sign Jake Bauers to a minor-league deal, there’s no risk at all. Cincinnati could decide to make a waiver claim or trade for Bauers in the coming days, but that would require the team to add him to the 40-man roster right away.

The Reds should sit patiently and wait for Bauers to clear waivers. Then Cincinnati can sign the 25-year-old to a minor league deal, send him to Triple-A Louisville, and see what shakes out. Bauers is out of options, so if the team picked him up via waivers, he’d have to remain with the big league club for the remainder of the season if the front office desired to keep him in the organization.