Reds' insider floats free agent fit that doesn't align with Cincy's newfound emphasis

The Cincinnati Reds are having a quiet offseason. Though it's has been a positive winter with the addition of Terry Francona, Jose Trevino, and Brady Singer, several more issues must be resolved before Opening Day.

Francona is hopeful to be trotting out an improved defense next season. Cincinnati had one of the worst defenses in 2024, and the new Reds' skiper has been preaching accountability this offseason. But one Reds insider is going against the grain. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com believes a Reds' reunion with Jesse Winker is a good fit for Cincinnati in 2025.

Is Jesse Winker really a good fit for the Reds?

Cincinnati does not have a ton of payroll to play around with, so welcoming Winker back on a team-friendly deal is understandable. Winker is a great hitter with a good eye at the dish. Those two factors would benefit any team. Winker secured 118 OPS+ and a .360 on-base percentage last season while playing for the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets. He was a tremendous midseason pickup for New York, batting .385 in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Though his offensive output was strong, his defensive metrics should be enough to keep the Reds from bringing him back to Great American Ballpark next season. Winker posted -9 Outs Above Average (OAA) in 2024, marking his sixth-straight season with at zero OAA or worse.

If the Reds want to fill that vacant outfield spot, there are better options out there. Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu is a perfect fit for Cincinnati if they can spin the right deal. Abreu a younger player (25) known for his defense, but can also hold his own at the plate.

Reunions are always fun to fantasize about, but the Reds can do better than Winker. Francona and Co. are clearly moving in a new direction in an attempt to dig this organization out of mediocrity. Signing Winker would be a move that the Reds of yesteryear would make, and in this new era of Cincinnati baseball, he should not be brought back.

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