Welcome Ty France to Cincinnati

[757690]

Plan for the worst hope for the best.

That’s one of my favorite expressions.

As for Candy, he’s been so erratic in his career, he’s difficult to project. I would put the odds of him repeating this season, or repeating 2023, at 50/50.

[GAC]

No. The failed test was after they signed him.

Candy signed on 1/3/24, Marte’s suspension was announced in March and teams aren’t notified that far in advance.

Also, the first rumors of the Reds signing Candy showed up as soon as free agency started, he was always the plan.

Yes, that's when it was reported to the public. But I thought someone posted something that showed that Red's management knew beforehand, and thus signed Candy. If that's not true then OK.

I still didn't like the signing lol

[Bourgeois Zee]

Disagree. I think France == CES, which makes him expendable.

Which is certainly defensible.

That said, CES and France can absolutely play in the same sandbox.

France becomes a utility guy or CES plays 3B or becomes primarily DH.

[M2]

The Reds have got a giant pile of cash they probably aren't spending on free agents. Might as well keep France, who's not going to break the bank. He's a bat-on-ball guy (17th in the AL in SO% 2021-23, which might be the weirdest stat ever - seriously, 17th every season?) and the Reds have a park that can enhance what he does. Could be a Scooter Gennett find. If other guys step up and deliver, then he still doesn't cost much and the worst thing that's happening is the Reds have solid bat lurking on their bench.

Obviously he needs to keep hitting all the way to the wire, but if he does, the Reds aren't in a position to turn their nose up at a guy who's got a clue at the plate.

[Kc61]

France is playing well and, while the redundancy at first base/DH is there, I don’t see non-tender as a viable option. He’s re-establishing value. Don’t non-tender players with value.

The creative front office might look for a trade involving France, CES, or Candy. But it’s a tough deal, Candy has that contract, CES missed most of the season, France wouldn’t bring very much. Could happen, Reds will be looking for creative ways to improve.

Don’t see CES at AAA as a meaningful option. He destroyed AAA pitching last time, he’ll be playing at age 25, if healthy I see him on the roster.

The one answer I can see is sub-optimal - move Candy to third base. He’s not a good fielder, but Espinal could relieve him in the late innings. This is something Reds might do while Marte continues to develop in the minors. Reds seldom get too hung up on defensive reaches.

[HokieRed]

Team has looked sharper to me in the last three games than at any time in the season. Some of that is the infield defense, particularly at the corners. I think I'd not go backward on this by putting Candelario at 3rd.

[mth123]

France is the best defensive 1B they have by far. I'd be OK keeping him based solely on his defense (I don't buy the offense and still see him as Rowdy Tellez or Dan Vogelbach with a lot better defense) if they could off-load Candy, but that isn't happening. I still think CES and Marte should start 2025 in AAA. My infield would be Candy 1B, McLain 2B, EDLC SS and Espinal at 3B. India would be the DH. Steer in LF. Fraley could back up all of them by playing LF with Steer at 1B or DH, India at 2B. McLain or Espinal could slide to SS. Candy could slide to 3B. Get a new RF and Fraley could back him up as well. IF is covered. They don't really need to add any IF besides those guys IMO (CES and Marte in AAA and Arroyo, Stewart and Collier could all be options at some point). Get a back-up Catcher. A 5th OF who hits RH (maybe keep Fairchild, he has his strengths, but there is a lot about his game I don't like so I'd look around for somebody else). Then you'd have an open spot for whatever. Either a AAA shuttle based on what is needed or an expendable player who can be DFA or optioned if Marte or CES or somebody else shows that they need to be called up. I'd like to see them try Ivan Johnson in that role. He can play 2B and all the OF spots and has hit well in AA and AAA this year.

I think I'd move Benson, Dunn and Hurtubise for whatever I can get. I might keep Dunn in AAA as a break glass in case of emergency guy, but he would be removed from the 40-man roster.

Cam Collier is my dark horse pick to be in the line-up every day by June at 1b, 3B or DH and is another reason I wouldn't load the roster down with another relatively expensive 1B. Between Candy and France, they'd be making about $25 Million to provide second division/7 hole production. Add that money towards going big on a RF/Clean-up hitter. The Reds have plenty of flawed players who can hit 7th.

[Kingspoint]

France is playing well and, while the redundancy at first base/DH is there, I don’t see non-tender as a viable option. He’s re-establishing value. Don’t non-tender players with value.

The creative front office might look for a trade involving France, CES, or Candy. But it’s a tough deal, Candy has that contract, CES missed most of the season, France wouldn’t bring very much. Could happen, Reds will be looking for creative ways to improve.

Don’t see CES at AAA as a meaningful option. He destroyed AAA pitching last time, he’ll be playing at age 25, if healthy I see him on the roster.

The one answer I can see is sub-optimal - move Candy to third base. He’s not a good fielder, but Espinal could relieve him in the late innings. This is something Reds might do while Marte continues to develop in the minors. Reds seldom get too hung up on defensive reaches.

So, you want to place Candy at 3B, who is a bottom-of-the-league fielder next to Elly, who is also a terrible fielder at SS. For every great play that Elly makes, he makes a dozen bone-headed ones.

His UZR/150 at SS the last two years is -11.7 and -8.6 this season,...bottom of the league both seasons. If they insist on playing Elly at SS, they will need above average Defenders on both sides of him. He's given way too many chances and some of them need to be taken away. Outfielders need to be calling him off as it's their ball anyway.

There's no playoff future for this team as long as Candelario is on it (unless he gets injured and misses at least half the season) as he'll get too many Starts, too much time in the field, and too many PA's on the road.

[Kc61]

So, you want to place Candy at 3B, who is a bottom-of-the-league fielder next to Elly, who is also a terrible fielder at SS. For every great play that Elly makes, he makes a dozen bone-headed ones.

His UZR/150 at SS the last two years is -11.7 and -8.6 this season,...bottom of the league both seasons. If they insist on playing Elly at SS, they will need above average Defenders on both sides of him. He's given way too many chances and some of them need to be taken away. Outfielders need to be calling him off as it's their ball anyway.

There's no playoff future for this team as long as Candelario is on it (unless he gets injured and misses at least half the season) as he'll get too many Starts, too much time in the field, and too many PA's on the road.

Didn’t say I want Candy at third. Read again. I said it was sub-optimal, he’s not a good fielder, but it’s a way to get France in the lineup. Espinal could spell him in the late innings.

And you cherry pick the metrics for EDLC at shortstop. You ignore Statcast OAA and also Def, both excellent. Indeed his OAA is 16. The next best player on the Reds is Fairchild in RF at 2. 16 v 2.

But thanks for the response.

[HokieRed]

Actually I've been thinking the best combination next year may be McClain at 3d, EDLC at SS, India at 2b, Espinal backing all 3.

[Kc61]

Actually I've been thinking the best combination next year may be McClain at 3d, EDLC at SS, India at 2b, Espinal backing all 3.

Sounds as good as any other scenario that I’ve seen. Not sure if McLain has any background at third, but he’s a gifted infielder.

You could do EDLC at third and McLain at short, which we’ve already seen. But I doubt Reds want to move Elly off shortstop.

Could do India at third, he’s played there before, McLain at second, which is a variation on the theme.

[westofyou]

Sounds as good as any other scenario that I’ve seen. Not sure if McLain has any background at third, but he’s a gifted infielder.

You could do EDLC at third and McLain at short, which we’ve already seen. But I doubt Reds want to move Elly off shortstop.

Could do India at third, he’s played there before, McLain at second, which is a variation on the theme.

I think the Reds salivate over having a McClain Elly keystone with two plus fielders and bats under control

[Redeyecat]

I don't get this Kepler appeal that I feel like I keep seeing around here. What does he bring you that Fraley doesn't? Kepler has a 90 OPS+ compared to Fraley's 97 OPS+. Both bat and throw LH. Fraley is 2+ years younger (29 v. 31), made $2.1M last year (and arbitration isn't likely to yield a huge raise) and he isn't eligible for free agency until 2027.

[Redeyecat]

Actually I've been thinking the best combination next year may be McClain at 3d, EDLC at SS, India at 2b, Espinal backing all 3.

India's rebounded nicely defensively at 2B but I think he could be even better at 3B with practice and patience. I'd be more inclined to move him there (to compete with Marte, maybe even CES) than to move McLain to 3B. I know we're stuck with Candelario and he can supposedly play 3B too. But to me he looks awful there outside of emergencies.

[Patrick Bateman]

They need to trade prospects for a real outfielder if they want to contend seriously.

At some point you have to get serious.

I like France enough, and on a 1 year deal around $7m I don’t have a problem bringing him back.


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