FEB 8, 4:19pm: Strange-Gordon will earn a base salary of $1MM if he makes the Reds’ roster, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com tweets.
10:25 am: The Reds have announced the signing of Strange-Gordon. He’ll get an invite to spring training with the opportunity to compete for playing time at shortstop and/or in a utility role.
FEB 7: The Reds are in agreement on a minor-league deal with infielder Dee Strange-Gordon, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (via Twitter). The deal contains an invitation to MLB spring training, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Athletic.
A two-time All-Star and three-time stolen base leader early in his career with the Dodgers and Marlins, Strange-Gordon was traded to the Mariners in advance of the 2018 season. His tenure in Seattle proved to be a disappointment, though. Strange-Gordon never took to the Mariners’ attempt to convert him to a center fielder that year. At the same time, his production at the plate had a significant drop, limiting his opportunities to do damage on the base paths.
Over the past three seasons, Strange-Gordon has hit a meager .266/.293/.343 (73 wRC+). That made Seattle’s decision to decline a $14MM option on his services for 2021 easy. Still, there’s no harm for the Reds in bringing in a respected ten-year veteran on a non-guaranteed pact and giving him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
Cincinnati has a glaring hole at shortstop, the position at which Strange-Gordon broke into the big leagues. He’s mostly played second base over the past seven years, but he’s continued to pick up sporadic playing time at short (as well as in the outfield). That’s likely his path to regular playing time with the Reds, who have Mike Moustakas lined up for the lion’s share of work at the keystone. Nevertheless, given Strange-Gordon’s pronounced struggles over the past three years, it’d be surprising if the Reds didn’t bring in additional competition for incumbent shortstop options José García, Kyle Farmer and Kyle Holder. Cincinnati has been in recent contact with Jonathan Villar, arguably the top shortstop still available in free agency.
I didn’t know he was at that point in his career. Strange…
He has been mediocre since being busted for PEDs in 2015.
I wouldn’t call 3.6 WAR 200 hits and 60 stolen bases in 2017 mediocre. I like this for the Reds especially on a minor league deal. Shocking he couldn’t find a deal with anyone at the league minimum to ride the bench.
With an OPS+ below 100. Gordon is terrible at everything besides singles and speed. He has one of the worst walk rates of all time. Guy does nothing for a lineup and there is a reason a team like the Dodgers immediate traded him with a new FO.
Yeah, the Dodgers IMMEDIATELY traded him after SIX YEARS with the team. Way to try to window dress it.
Not the Dodgers. Andrew Friedman.
with a new FO, please read the entire commenting before sending your all caps out everywhere
McGriff- You can have him!!! This Mariners fan is glad to see the back of him. His defense was good at times but his AB’s were absolute garbage for us. Over the last 2 seasons especially, he was absolutely nowhere near the man who put up those 2017 numbers. He rarely steals bags anymore, strikes out a lot, doesn’t attempt to take BB’s and can no longer beat out an infield sgl. Other than that he’s great
Right, wonder if they want him at short and will have him play in the minors till he is ready?
He’s 32 his prime is over and has been below average since 2018-2020. There is no “waiting till he’s ready”.
Think he meant defensively
That’s not funny!
Signed,
Mike Weird Trout
Should’ve changed his name to McLovin
It’ll be incentive-laden, presumably.
incoming “this is their solution at SS?” comments
If this is the solution they come up with its time to tear this team the rest of the way down. Lying to fans about trying to compete then not signing players that fit the team needs gets old as a Reds fan. Your team got the SS they wanted you should be happy and don’t worry about how mad a fan base is about getting shafted.
…how mad a fan base is about getting shafted, once again.
It’s a minor league deal, I think that makes it pretty clear they don’t expect him to be the solution to anything other than someone has to fill the AAA lineup.
No such thing as a bad minor league deal.
Silly cliche comment. Yeah it’s a minor league deal but he’s not playing a day in the minors. He either makes the team and earns his money or gets let go. Guys over 30 don’t have the patience to sit in the minors, and they will give him some sort of role if he makes the team.
Darkside, do you ever get tired of trolling?
Check his OPS downfall the last few years. He is not even a plus on defense. Strange but true baseball stories. One of my favorite books as a youngster.
I remember that book (not what is in it, it was too long ago)
Dee, you love the guy, want to see him play and are sorry you watched…he just could not be counted on to move the runner up, make the play. Sad to see a great guy not doing what he needs to do.
This is just weird… or should I say… odd?
One could even say… peculiar
Hey reds fans, since it looks like Pittsburgh and Cincy being the worst teams in the central, will we see the ketchup and mustard brawls? What more do we have to look forward too this year?
sadly Kela and Puig are gone
How is Cincinnati one of the worst teams? Have you seen the pitching staff in Chicago?
Chicago just won the division. You’ll have to wait a year or two before putting them in the “worst in the NL Central” conversation.
i was a big defender of them in the past, but unless they add something decent they arent likely going to be a factor this year. not bad, but the Cards are on another tier.
4th at best for the Cubs, Pittsburgh may as well sit the year out
Chicago won the division in a 60 game season with at least three starters that are gone now. They have no ace. No closer (even though I see Kimbrel having a good year and getting traded) and no offense.
Chicago has won the division 3 times and made the playoffs 5 in 6 years. Give it a rest.
The Cubs no longer have a starting rotation, nor do they have a bullpen. You may need to rest, or hit your local watering hole.
Yu left
Or you should
chicagofan197820 hours ago
Chicago won the division in a 60 game season with at least three starters that are gone now.
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To some extent, I don’t disagree. There are still a couple of guys out there, but I am not sure where they are going to come up with 900 IPs from their rotation.
But OTOH, two of the SPs they lost combined for 5-5 with a 5.20 ERA. Assuming that Mills will be part of the rotation, the four SPs they currently have combined for a 3.26 ERA (with worser FIP).
Ownership, imo, has fallen asleep. They can add 1.5 SPs, and 1-2 RPs, and they’d still have a very affordable team, with a good shot at 1st.
I’m sure they can, but is it really worth kinda going for it or maybe just start a rebuild. Teams like the Padres blue jays and white Sox are going for it, dodgers are the cream of the crop. Maybe they feel no fans in the stands no need to push the budget.
i mean best you can say is they will be playing for 3rd. Chicago doesnt have Schwarber but most of their infield should be primed to rebound and Davies isnt Darvish, but he’s hardly a pushover. Milwaukee’s been quiet so far but I feel they should grab the scraps and be 2nd.
Have you seen the pitching staff in Chicago?
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Actually, I have. They were #3 in the NL in runs allowed per game. Cincinnati was #5 RA/game.
So, in the last season that was played, the Cubs had a better pitching staff than Cincy.
Any other questions?
This is interesting because the other day I was thinking about story-lines to follow in 2021.
The first two for me are the Mets and Padres complete re-brands. Two sexy looking teams now that they have turned their respective corners. Then I thought about the break-out teams. Do the Royals make some noise? Maybe the Brewers sneak out of the Central somehow? The Mariners are young and talented and maybe a WC if everything goes their way. I mean everything. How will the Yanks’ rotation look with their new additions? How terrific will Tanaka be on the high-seas? Are the Cards a good team?
So many things to watch for and that was just an overview…
It would be tough to top the brawl the Bucs and Reds had in 2019, but since it doesn’t look like either team will have much to shoot for this year, maybe they’ll have a “fight” for last place.
In the central , “ there’s rich teams snd poor teams , then there’s 50 feet of crap, then there’s the Pirates”
Someone said something like that somewhere …
Should Reds fans be Dee-lighted or Dee-sgusted by this move?
What a “strange” signing
He should be getting better than a minor league deal
No, he shouldn’t.
As carlos15 says, no he shouldn’t.
His WARs the last three seasons are 0.0, 0.4, an -0.3. He’s a “if he catches lightning in a bottle, he could be a useful bench piece” type of player right now. That = MiL deal.
this is their solution at SS?
It’s kind of like using duct tape to repair a dam, isn’t it?
sausage
I’m Abe Frohman
I feel like unless they sign Villar or trade for Rosario, their best in house solution would be to try Senzel at SS.
Its not like Villar is really a SS! Even too late to trade for Andrus.
Depth.
Moose wears number 9……maybe Dee can wear 11? Dee Strange-r Things Gordon!!!!
I get the reference, but 11 is retired for the Reds. Barry Larkin’s number.
dang….great point
Danny McBride?
Reds just feeling lost without Billy Hamilton
Underrated comment.
Overrated reply
Dude just can’t hit anymore.
Or field, unfortunately. He’s nothing more than a PR and “might not embarrass you too much at 2B and COF” guy in terms of on-field baseball skills now.
For him, he either just wants to keep playing baseball for the pure love of it or is looking to get an inside track to an off-field second career.
For the Reds, they either want deep depth or a AAA player quasi-coach who may become more.
He’s likable with other players, so it is easy for me to see him going down a coaching path.
Just when you try to figure out the lack of improvement and activity this off season, the Reds sign players with the names Doolittle and Strange. Wish I was making it up.
He is probably the worst option the Reds have looked at for SS. But probably the least expensive so that’s a typical Reds mis-management! Never pay for talent is becoming Reds motto!
Nick krall went looking for strange…and this is what he came back with?
Strange and Doolittle. Both fictitious drs. Hmmm. Who’s next dr doom?
The Reds announce they have signed LHP Royce Trapperjohn to a minor league deal, pending a physical.
Kevorkian only option
Suicide squeeze?
Favorite play
Former MLB infielder Doug Strange comes out of retirement? He’s only 56.
Dentist named Dr. Smiley, maybe?
You think if there is a section of rabid Strange Gordon fans at The Great American Ballpark they will dub themselves “Dee’s Nuts”?
I applaud this.
If there are enough Gordon fans to fill a section out there, they may be infected with a contagious disease which affects sanity…could very well be rabies.
When/why did he change his last name?
I think it was before last season, and if I remember right it was to honor his late mother.
Middle of last season was when it showed on his uni. I didn’t see the story till later it was Strange.
Getting Strange-Gordon on a minor league deal would be a low risk move. But if the Reds weren’t really going to compete for one of the best free agent shortstops, they might as well have tried to resign Galvis. But it’s too late for even that.
The life of a Cincinnati Red’s fan. Sometimes I wonder which team has worse owners the Red’s or Bengals. So this offseason we have lost our Ace and Cy Young winner. Shipped our closer out and said we were reallocating funds. And all we have done is add mediocre players who can’t make any other team’s club. Castellini needs to sell this team if he doesn’t have the money to run it. Get ready for $1 hot dogs. The Red’s won’t have to worry about social distancing at GABP because nobody will be there to watch their 70 win team.
Castellini is still making money and building equity in his hobby. And he can expense everything he does relating to baseball…
70 is too high
Why…just why? I pay 152 bucks a month for cable and internet, mostly so I can watch Reds baseball. If they’re not going to make any effort at all to get better and contend, then maybe I should “reallocate” my resources as well.
The Reds are the only reason I’ve had cable going back like 15 years. I dropped it right after last season ended and I don’t miss it one bit. If MLB would pull their heads out of their a**es and do away with blackout restrictions I’d entertain subscribing to the streaming service, but I’m fine just missing out on more sub .500 baseball. I know I could probably get around it using a VPN, but, I guess I don’t care enough lol.
I hear ya, why throw good money at a bad product! The radio is just as easy to turn offas a TV…
I’m in that same boat. Came downstairs one day to my wife and daughter watching good morning america and knew I had to shut it off. Best thing I ever did for the sanity of my household. Haven’t missed the Reds (or KY Wildcats) since. What I gained was infinitely greater than what I gave up!
Outstanding…I just paid my bill, but next month it’s gone!
If Kyle Farmer is you’re starting SS then its going to be a very long season
The Reds will quickly find out Dee can’t make the throw from SS to 1B. He barely can hit the cutoff man from the outfield most of the time or loops it 100ft high.
Hey We will sign first, Lindor then Correa, then Didi, then Siemen, then Rosario, then Villar… Just Kidding Its a Strange Joke!!!
I would have thought the Reds and CLE would have struck a deal sending Amed Rosario to CIN by now. It would be interesting to know why that deal hasn’t happened yet. Tribe is gonna want an OF, so the ask must be too steep for CIN
Why do teams sign so many players to a minor league deal? Is it because they don’t have to create a spot on the 40 man roster now? Most of these players will make the team after Spring Training
Could it be that Cleveland likes Rosario and that’s why they traded for him?
solaris6023 hours ago
I would have thought the Reds and CLE would have struck a deal sending Amed Rosario
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My guess is that Cincy is gun-shy from having made too many bad moves over the 2-3 years. They spent 5 years rebuilding, snuck into the playoffs, then lost their ace, their closer and their setup.
They might not even know whether they should be in Rebuild 2.0.
Gordon has lasted a lot longer in MLB than I anticipated. Good for him. He is wealthy and is still hanging on by his fingertips.
Very strange, never expected it
Still think Reds should acquire Rosario.
Strange signing.
Awful strange that his career tanked right around the time he changed his name!
His career tanked when he stopped juicing and kept getting injured as a result.
While a great clubhouse presence he never lived up to his ability sadly. Cant say im SAD to see him go but the Mariners are looking toward the future and Dee couldnt carve himself out a spot for it.
Sure this isn’t the cousin of a Batman villian?
Why did he change his name to Strangd-Gordon?
It is to honor his mother (DeVona Denise Strange) who was killed in an act of domestic violence.
I understand Gordon’s baseball skills has dropped off but do a quick google search on him and see all the good he is doing.
Trade for Adames. He has significant upside with power.
Reds already have someone who can play SS quite nicely. Move Senzel there and ease the OF logjam. WTP.?
I could see a trade of moose or Suarez and Gordon shifting to 2b.
This is not going to go well. Billy Hamilton 2.0