3 possible signings Reds should prioritize over Tony Kemp

The Reds are rumored to be interested in Tony Kemp, but there are better options.

The rumor was a bit strange, however, as the Reds were linked to former Oakland A’s utility player Tony Kemp. While his reverse splits saw him have success against left-handed pitching 2023, that would seem to be outlier. For his career, Kemp has hit just .241/.346/.343 off southpaws.Rather than sign Kemp, there are still some quality bats available on the open market. After investing over $100 million in free agency this offseason, Cincinnati may not want to spend a lot, but should prioritize these three free agents over inking Kemp to a deal.

Michael A. Taylor

The Reds were said to have interest in Michael A. Taylor earlier this offseason, but the speedy outfielder is still available on the free agent market. Taylor’s price may be a bit outside the Reds’ comfort zone at this stage of the offseason, but if he remains unsigned heading into spring training, perhaps the former Minnesota Twin would be willing to lower his expectations ahead the 2024 season.Taylor, who’s also been linked to the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres this winter, fits this year’s Reds team. The 32-year-old offers a right-handed bat to platoon alongside the plethora of left-handed hitting outfielders on Cincinnati’s roster. The Reds current crop of outfielders features TJ Friedl, Will Benson, Nick Martini, and Jake Fraley; all of whom are left-handed batters.Taylor offers the ability to play all three outfield spot and can do so while playing above-average defense. Last season, according to Baseball Savant, Taylor was worth nine outs above average (OAA), which put him among the 91st percentile in all of baseball.Michael A. Taylor also possesses elite speed, which is something that would fit the Reds’ personality. David Bell’s club led Major League Baseball in stolen bases (190) a year ago, and it stands to reason that the Reds will be looking to repeat that in 2024. While Tony Kemp seems like an odd choice, Taylor is the perfect fit for the Reds.

Robbie Grossman

Acquiring Robbie Grossman appears to be an obvious and logical decision for the Cincinnati Reds. Grossman, who was involved in the Texas Rangers World Series last season, is currently available for signing. Grossman’s statistical distribution would be highly compatible with the specific requirements of the Reds.

In 2023, the individual who is 34 years old achieved a batting average of .306, an on-base percentage of .416, and a slugging percentage of .536 when facing left-handed pitchers. His .633 OPS versus right-handed pitching was subpar, but Cincinnati boasts a lineup abundant with hitters who excel against right-handers. Grossman may potentially be positioned in right field to replace either Jake Fraley or Will Benson when the opposing team starts a left-handed pitcher.

Although Grossman’s defensive skills are subpar, his wage demands do not appear to be excessive. Therefore, he would likely be a suitable addition to the Reds’ remaining budget for the winter, as determined by Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall.

Grossman may not possess exceptional speed, but he is not excessively slow on the base paths either. According to Baseball Savant, Grossman’s sprint speed of 27.8 feet per second surpasses Tony Kemp’s speed of 26.1 feet per second. Grossman demonstrates exceptional discipline in refraining from swinging at poor pitches, as evidenced by his impressively low strikeout percentage of only 23.3% in the previous year.

If the Cincinnati Reds are seeking to complete the final position on the bench, Tony Kemp is a viable choice among other alternatives. However, it appears peculiar to pursue the ex-Oakland A’s utility player while there are still available players such as Robbie Grossman, Adam Duvall, and Michael A. Taylor.

Adam Duvall

Since the Cincinnati Reds are focused on bringing players home to the Queen City, why not add former slugger Adam Duvall to the list. While Duvall isn’t from Cincinnati, he grew up just down the road in Louisville, Kentucky. Duvall played high school ball at Butler Traditional High School and starred at the University of Louisville before being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2010.

Duvall came to Reds by way of trade in 2015 in exchange for reliever Keury Mella. Duvall went to the All-Star Game in 2016 and was part of the Atlanta Braves World Championship team in 2021. Duvall would bring a veteran presence to the clubhouse along with postseason success.

Duvall, who, according to The Athletic (subscription required) has been linked to the Minnesota Twins this offseason, has bounced around the past few seasons, spending time with the aforementioned Braves as well as the Miami Marlins and Boston Red Sox. Last season, Duvall hit .247/.303/.531 in just under 100 games for the Red Sox.

Reds fans have seen the power that Duvall possesses. If Cincinnati is looking for that right-handed power bat to platoon with the left-handed hitting duo of Jake Fraley and Will Benson, there might not be a better option than Duvall.

In 2023, Adam Duvall posted better numbers against right-handed pitchers than he did against southpaws, and there’s not much different in his career-splits either. Duvall was able to muscle 21 balls out of park a year ago, and during his time with the Reds, Duvall mashed 84 big flies and posted a .469 slugging percentage. Tony Kemp’s career slugging percentage is .352.