Turn Off Ads?
Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: Re-Stocking AAA: Paradigms & Pieces

  1. #1
    Member Bourgeois Zee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    12,620

    Re-Stocking AAA: Paradigms & Pieces

    (Sounds like the most boring movie ever.)

    The Reds have remarkably little coming to AAA this season.

    Tyler Stephenson is a good prospect. The Reds seem to like Tejay Antone and Packy Naughton in the rotation. Joel Kuhnel and Ryan Hendrix have some interesting numbers as relief arms. Maybe Jose Garcia, TJ Friedl, Jonathan India, and Stuart Fairchild get there after the All-Star break. (Or maybe not.)

    Beyond that? Not much.

    And it's not like Louisville was stocked to begin with. They sucked last year. Badly.

    AAA has become vital as a way to provide depth beyond the 25-man (now 26-man) roster.

    Just five years ago, the Reds would have likely stuck with what they had, perhaps signed one guy or two as AAAA vets and hoped everyone stayed healthy.

    This year, they went out and signed or picked up nearly an entire team. 16 guys were signed this off-season who may play a significant role at both Louisville and as depth pieces in Cincinnati.

    In the outfield, Aquino has an option and was a 2019 stud. TJ Friedl is likely ticketed for another spot. That leaves Boog Powell as the third guy. Unless Scott Schebler clears waivers. Or Travis Jankowski. Or Mark Payton. Lots of options there. Regardless, Aquino provided well above average production last year in the major leagues and, with good wheels and a solid glove, he should again even if he doesn't reach his ceiling as a slugger. Powell showed some real promise in 2017 before getting injured. Others in the mix have also provided solid value in the past, including Schebler and Jankowski.

    On the infield, Matt Davidson is a league average bat at the corners. Christian Colon takes good ABs and can play 2B, 3B, 1B, and elsewhere. Blandino probably slots in at 2B unless VanMeter joins him in AAA. Or Derek Dietrich. Then you've got an entire IF (plus one) who've played in the majors and provided above replacement level production in their last taste of big league pitching.

    Speaking of pitching, the Reds have Tyler Mahle as their sixth starter. Beyond him, there's Brooks Raley, who's spent the last five years getting by in Korea's super-charged offensive environment. Santillan, Antone, and Naughton probably line up behind them to form an entire AAA rotation that might be adequate BOR MLB guys. There are also no fewer than 10(!) former major league relief arms from which to choose, should someone in the majors go down with injury or need a blow.

    In short, that's a ton of depth that wasn't with the Reds last season and could well make a difference as they compete for an NL Central crown.

    Is there a Max Muncy in the lot? Probably not, though Aquino and VanMeter might well provide real value as starters moving forward. But Cincinnati should have answers who can be somewhere between league average and better than replacement level pretty much everywhere but catcher.

  2. Likes:

    *BaseClogger* (02-16-2020)


  3. Turn Off Ads?

Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator