Randal Grichuk’s new deal should influence Reds to target these low-cost free agents
While the Reds have been rather the quiet the past few weeks, the club should look to add one more bat.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Randal Grichuk / Ronald Martinez/GettyImages
Although Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall hasn’t ruled out signing other free agents this winter, supporters shouldn’t anticipate any major splashes. The Reds have already invested more than $100 million in players like Nick Martinez, Jeimer Candelario, and Frankie Montas.Although Krall has done a good job of bolstering the Reds’ roster this winter, Cincinnati’s lineup still has a void in it. The Reds are devoid of an outfielder who can platoon with Jake Fraley and Will Benson in right field and hits right-handed, which is effective against left-handed pitching.
One such player was apparently able to reach an agreement with Randal Grichuk, and the Arizona Diamondbacks decided to remove him from the market on Saturday. With his cheap contract, the outfielder should have been on the Reds’ radar. Even though Grichuk is leaving for the desert, the Reds can use this to estimate how much a contract with a few other unsigned free agents, such as Robbie Grossman or Adam Duvall, might cost.Randal Grichuk’s new deal should influence Reds to target Adam Duvall & Robbie Grossman
Grichuk agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with a mutual 2025 option. According to reports, the agreement contains a $6 million option with a $500,000 buyout and a $1.5 million base salary in 2024. Krall needs to pick up the phone immediately if the Reds can get a player such as Duvall or Grossman to sign a comparable contract.
Last season, Grichuk’s OPS was.779, but he struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting.328/.388/.607. Despite having reversal splits the previous season, Duvall—who has been connected to the Boston Red Sox all offseason—had a remarkably equal lifetime record versus right- and left-handed pitching.
Grossman’s figures more closely matched those of Grichuk. The 34-year-old’s 2023 line of.309/.416/.536 versus southpaws is impressive, but his.633 OPS against right-handed pitchers indicates that Grossman is best served as a platoon bat alone.
Stuart Fairchild, Jose Barrero, and Josh Harrison—a non-roster invitee—are now competing at spring training to discover who will be the 26th player on the Reds roster. Cincinnati is also experimenting with the idea of letting Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jonathan India play some outfield.
Duvall may be looking for a contract that is somewhat above what Grichuk agreed to. In addition to putting up strong numbers in 2023, the former standout player from the University of Louisville continues to play defense deserving of a Gold Glove. It’s not possible for Grossman’s contract demands to exceed those of Grichuk. You may even argue that his upcoming agreement ought to be considerably less.
As the organization looks to establish its Opening Day roster, filling such a niche role shouldn’t necessarily be top of the list because the Cincinnati Reds have plenty of bats in the lineup. However, the Reds should seize the opportunity if they can sign either Grossman or Duvall for $2 million or less.