Reds utilityman Derek Dietrich has requested and received his release from the team, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com tweets. Dietrich, whom the Reds brought back on a minor league contract over the winter, just joined their player pool last week after a positive coronavirus test. He excercised an opt-out clause, meaning he won’t be able to re-sign with the Reds this year, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic notes.
For the Reds and Dietrich, this ends what was briefly a very fruitful relationship. The former Marlin signed a minors pact with the Reds heading into 2019, earned a roster spot and then went into the summer as one of the game’s hottest hitters. Dietrich posted a ridiculous .304/.400/.841 line with 12 home runs in just 80 plate appearances in May, but his production cratered after that. He finished the season a .187/.328/.462 hitter with 19 homers in 341 PA, though that line was still 2 percent better than league average, according to FanGraphs’ wRC+ metric.
The 31-year-old Dietrich, to his credit, has consistently been a better-than-average offensive player since his career started in 2013. He owns a lifetime triple-slash of .246/.334/.427 (108 wRC+) with 79 HRs in 2,438 trips to the plate, though most of the lefty-swinger’s damage has come against righties. Defensively, Dietrich has garnered extensive experience at several positions (first, second, third and left). While Dietrich hasn’t graded particularly well at any of those spots, his versatility in the field and history of respectable offense should enable him to catch on elsewhere.
Braves?
The cards are always looking for a cheap LH bat with some pop and versatility…
They’ve got Brad Miller in that role currently
The Pirates are never looking for either RH Or LH bat with pop and versatility for any price.
If anything he knows how to get under the Pirates skin…
The Braves will kick the tires on every LH bat-mainly guy to hit the market.
Id still rather see if Puig will sign once he tests negative over Dietrich
The thing with players like Puig is teams want to bring mature players into the clubhouse, not players that put their teammates at risk.
Does anyone trust Puig to have even a modicum of self control?
The Braves might have dodged a bullet.
After Puig tests negative he will have immunity though. I won’t comment on his maturity but he can’t personally put players at risk after he has recovered.
I immediately thought the same thing earlier when I saw the article. Funny… I don’t mind him as a bench piece. Looks like we just signed Matt Adams though
Phillies please
ew no
I could see braves, pirates, royals, or Phillies
For some reason, I thought he was really good last year. He could be a fit for the Angels since they don’t really have much depth around the infield. They have David Fletcher and Taylor Ward as the expected Opening Day backup infielders and Arismendy Alcanatara in camp but he’s not making the team.
La Stella too. Had a good year until getting hurt. Rendon & Simmons will play most of the 60
Could be a good insurance policy if Rendon’s oblique ailment sidelines him for even a bit of time,
I think the Angels have the most depth than any team in the AL West. Rendon, Simmons, Fletcher, La Stella probably as starters. Pujols, Thaiss, Rengifo, Ward, Alcantara backing them up. I do think Dietrich would be a great fit but not because the angels don’t have enough infield depth.
Baseball can be a brutal business.
Oh no! Who’s Lorezen going to lift with now!?
He’s just going to deadlift the team bus.
Bauer
I could see him playing for the Mariners.
hs’d be a hit in Korea
Absolutely, both in terms of his KBL-friendly power profile and his outsized personality.
Probably Dietrich’s best shot at sustained playing time at this point.
NPB might also be a good option
Signing with the Pirates.
YEEEEEEAH RIGHT. They are completely and fully satisfied with the 30 they have now, which btw, is the worst 30 in all of the national league.
I’d take the Pirates’ 30 over the Marlins 30, and the SF Giants’ 30 any day of the week.
Blackandyellow is correct…
You’re telling me you’d rather have Alfaro/Cervelli, Jesus Aguilar/Garrett Cooper, Isan Diaz, Brian Anderson, Miguel Rojas, Lewis Brinson, Harold Ramirez, or Posey, Belt/Flores, Dubon, Longoria, Crawford, Dickerson, Bill Hamilton, and Yaz over Stallings, Bell, Frazier, Newman, Moran/Hayes, Reynolds, Dyson, and Polanco?
Guys like this get released for a reason. If he were such an obvious help to other teams then he wouldn’t have been released by the team he was already on. Now, take flier on him as a scrap-heap pickup who could fill in after multiple injuries? Sure, why not?
He got released because he requested to be released… read the article! The team only granted his release, but he was the one who decided to leave
I’m guessing he requested said release because he saw no pathway for a role on the team so, if so, same difference.
Well he asked for his release so that’s probably the reason
Agreed definitely an obnoxious show off, however, if you’re a team with the worst roster in the league, or bottom 5 overall, you still have to consider it.
Plenty of players are released every year and then go and contribute to another team. Happens all the time
Royals. Then they’ll trade him.
They will not trade him, he will be given a extenstion and refuse to trade him at at cost because he is nice.
our outfield was getting a bit crowded..I’m a fan of Double D..great clubhouse guy
Players with major league experience who are released by MLB clubs are free agents, and are free to negotiate terms with other clubs. While they’d like a major league contract, some settle for minor league contracts with specific terms, such as an invitation to spring training as a non roster invitee, or the right to opt out if they’re not on a roster by a certain date.
Some players get a retention bonus of $100,000 per the CBA if they’re not put on a major league roster before the season begins. Most teams have a few of such players. The Reds obviously have a very deep outfield. so Dietrich opted out and will look to catch on with another team.
Since he was not on the 40 man roster, he did not have to clear regular waivers, and he is a free agent again.
Paging JCmarte:
I guess the stress and strain you feel over the “targeting” by Pirate pitching will now improve, since this plate crowder and overrated hot dog is no longer on the Reds.
Heres a tip of the glass of Hudy Delight to your improved mental relaxation.
He’d be a decent pickup for the Pirates, especially with the uncertainty of Polanco to start the season. He’s one of those guys that you love him if he’s on your team but apparently do not if he isn’t. Very streaky but when he’s hot, he’s liable to hit 4-5 HRs in a short stretch.
Him and Kela can hopefully have a beer and talk it out. Especially on the most recent pitch that went 2 feet behind Dietrich…which yes was ‘targeting’ unless the ball ‘slipped’ or was just Kela trying to ‘control the inside of the plate’.
I’m over last week’s debate. Like I said, we didn’t see eye to eye and that’s ok. That’s what forums like this are for I suppose…Bring on baseball and like you said, I’m for anyone but the Cubs or Cards winning the central.
Pirates need to play Jose Osuna over this joker. Osuna is a better hitter, across a full season of ABs.
And yes, anything thats slows the low brow garbage from Cub fans, in their JCrew shirts, and gods gift to the Universe Cardinal fans….
Upvote applied for classiness.
Lmao no he’s not a better hitter “across a full season of abs”
It’s amazing how people can go research anything and everything at the tip of their fingers, yet still post false and ignorant information.
I could see braves, pirates, royals, or Phillies
Very nice DH possibility for a lot of NL clubs. Dude is a good hitter at times, but unfortunately can never stay consistent.
He’d be a nice utility piece, but I wouldn’t want him as my everyday DH.
To me, he might be a guy that’d fit in Baltimore. He’d be cheap, and they could use some help. If he rebounds somewhat, they could flip him for a lottery ticket type of prospect. If not, no loss.
He’s always seemed to do against the Nats, so I’d like for the Nats to take him. But some other team could probably use him more, such as the Braves or the O’s.
For a guy that likes jewelry, that decision could cost him a ring.
I could see the Red Sox giving him a shot.
Braves or Indians…
I’m hoping my Phillies will sign him.
Instant upgrade to their mediocrity,