Reds avoided a major headache by staying away from this free agent flop

Whether the Cincinnati Reds ever really attempted to pursue Tyler O’Neill or not, one thing is clear in hindsight; they should be thanking themselves for steering clear. Right now, O’Neill looks less like a difference-maker in Baltimore and more like a guy getting away with highway robbery.

Sure, O’Neill gave Baltimore Orioles fans a brief moment of excitement on Opening Day, launching a three-run homer against the Toronto Blue Jays to set a new MLB record with his sixth consecutive Opening Day blast. But if that was the selling point of Baltimore’s three-year, $49.5 million investment, it’s looking more like they paid for a one-night show rather than a full-season performer.

Since that start, O’Neill has fallen off a cliff offensively. Through his first 24 games with the O’s, he’s slashing a brutal .188/.280/.325 with just two home runs and 10 RBI. His OPS sits at an ugly .605, and he’s already piled up 27 strikeouts across 93 plate appearances. O’Neill even spent time on the injured list, sidelined for over two weeks with a neck injury — another reminder of his frustrating injury history.

The Reds should be thanking themselves for not signing Tyler O’Neill

For a Reds team that was rumored to be in the market for a power bat in the outfield this past winter, O'Neill seemed like a logical fit on paper. His monster 2024 with the Boston Red Sox, where he launched 31 home runs and shredded left-handed pitching with a 1.179 OPS, made him a tempting target.

Thankfully, Cincinnati never pulled the trigger. Because O'Neill hasn’t come anywhere close to repeating his 2024 production. He’s not only failing to drive the ball with authority but is also continuing the same trend of streaky power, long slumps, and frequent trips to the IL that’s followed him his entire career.

Even O'Neill’s advanced metrics, which suggest he’s making solid contact with a barrel rate of 16.4% and an expected wOBA of .343, feel misleading. There’s still time for O’Neill to turn things around, but the Orioles are already stuck with his contract, while the Reds wisely kept their money in their pockets.

Cincinnati might still be searching for that ideal power bat, but they certainly dodged a $49.5 million mistake proving that sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make.

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