The Diamondbacks have signed outfielder Josh Reddick to a minors contract, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Reddick will receive $750K in guaranteed salary if he makes the team’s Major League roster.
It was a quiet offseason for Reddick news, as there weren’t any publicly-known reports of teams interested in the 34-year-old’s services on the free agent market. Reddick’s contract with the D’Backs could have been aided by a couple of personal connections — as Piecoro notes, both GM Mike Hazen and assistant GM Ariel Sawdaye were both working in the Red Sox organization when Reddick began his career in Boston.
A veteran of 12 big league seasons with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, and Astros, Reddick comes to Arizona on the heels of a four-year, $52MM free agent contract with Houston signed prior to the 2017 season. Reddick arguably delivered on that commitment in the first season alone, hitting .314/.363/.484 over 540 PA to help the Astros capture the 2017 World Series title.
Over the last three years, however, Reddick has produced at a below-average (92 OPS+, 96 wRC+) pace, hitting .258/.318/.400 over 1247 PA. He also became essentially a reverse-splits player, with his left-handed bat doing better against southpaws than against right-handed pitching.
Reddick will provide some outfield depth to a D’Backs team that is missing its best player in Ketel Marte, who is on the injured list with a strained hamstring. Reddick could theoretically see a bit of center field action in a pinch, but is better served as a corner outfielder, though his right field defense took a big dropoff last season in the view of the Outs Above Average (-5), Defensive Runs Saved (-3) and UZR/150 (-22.3) metrics. The Diamondbacks don’t have much in the way of experience among their backup outfield options, though like Reddick, Josh Rojas, Josh VanMeter, and Pavin Smith are all left-handed hitters. (Corner outfield starters David Peralta and Kole Calhoun also swing from the left side of the plate.)
Decent signing
Good as a 4th/5th outfielder
Not even. He’s not a major league-caliber player and hasn’t been one since 2018. Only reason he hung around until last year was due to his bloated contract. Kyle Tucker wasted 2 years of his prime (2018-2019) because the Astros were too stubborn to admit they made a mistake paying Reddick despite his trash performance with the Dodgers in 2016.
Finally, Reddick got signed. About time, he is a good hitter/ player.
I think you misspelled “was”.
On a minimum minor league deal, I would love for Boston to have signed him. Should for example JDM get injured, he’d be a fine emergency DH at least against righties. He also can still play a decent right field and albeit years ago, did it in Fenway.
The issue with guy signing MiLB deals is you kind of have to make them want to come there. ‘Hey you can be our backup platoon DH’ doesnt sound as appealing as ‘heres regular ABs if David Peralta or Kole Calhoun suck/get hurt’
He’s has been a below replacement level hitter since 2018, so why would anyone play him at DH?
He was never good. 2017 was literally the only season he OPSed above .800 his entire career. I’m old enough to remember the Dodgers trading for him at the 2016 deadline due to Puig’s struggle. Then lo and behold, he was even worse than Puig (.643 OPS). Then the Astros overpaid for him that offseason anyway and wasted 2 years of Kyle Tucker’s prime to justify that dumb signing.
He stinks. His career should’ve ended 3 years ago, but instead the Astros wasted 2 years of Kyle Tucker’s prime to justify overpaying Reddick.
I was pretty surprised that he didn’t resign with the Astros. It seemed like their outfield had so many holes that they needed him. Just me?
Not just you, I’m actually shocked that the Astros didn’t bring him back; especially at that price.
Astros has several young OFers that have more upside than Reddick does at this point. No reason to block young guys with a below-league average veteran.
Reddick leaving is addition by subtraction. There are plenty of quad-a journeyman outfielders who are just as good as him and at least have some untapped upside. I would rather see Drew Ferguson than him in the Astros outfield.
I thought they’d sign Reddick when Calhoun was injured a month and a half ago. At any rate AZ can’t go wrong at that price. At worst he’s a competent 4th or 5th OF.
Ant Shane Greene sightings?
Yeah, that’s another strange situation, @despicable_you. After the Angels signed Chisek & Watson to &1MM deals the market rate for reliever-trying-to-catch-on-wherethehellever was set.
Finding it hard to believe no one wants to pony up that “much” for him. Every Real Contender in MLB could – at the very least – use a better guy somewhere in their 4th to 7th spots. Would like to see the Yanks scoop him for that, as he’d be a pretty solid 6th relief arm in our ‘pen.
Or the Mets for that matter they’re depth in the pen is not great.
I don’t think we can name a team vying for a championship that couldn’t find a spot for him.
It is weird. His asking price was likely too high initially and perhaps hadn’t come down? I’d be fine if the Yankees brought him back, although not clear who they’d bump for him.
If Greene is willing to take a 1 million deal, he would’ve been signed long ago. He has an overinflated sense of his worth. He’s going full Scooter Gennett.
Shane Greene will be signing with Boston soon…you heard it here first!
Well…we’re actually discussing contenders here, @Mantooth.
But…sure…yeah, whatever, bro.
What we have here is a lack of communication.
You were talking about contenders, and Mantooth was talking about 1st place teams.
And yes, I am a RS fan, and I will play that card while I can. I have no shame.
As you should!
Ooof. +1.
It appears I dropped my left & walked right into that one. Because…yeah, ya got me there, @Brady. Nothing much I can say about all that.
I’ve been fully prepared to completely blow off the sox this year. I know it’s really early but, man, I may actually have to pay attention to you guys. I think there’s going to be a whole lot of runs scored in the AL East this year for a whole lot ot reasons & I think both our squads will have a lot to do with that.
Just…not always for the reasons we’d prefer.
Curious signing. I could see a veteran CF, but not a veteran corner OF.
I would rather bring Adam Jones back from Japan than sign this scrub lol
I would have rather had Reddick on the Angels instead of Fowler smh.
I’m sure Dex is thinking the same thing now.
And I’d imagine the Angels(the entire organization) are saying the same thing
They’re both trash. Reddick, Fowler, and Ian Desmond are the 3 biggest overpaid fraud outfielders in recent memory.
Had by far his best season when he knew what pitch was coming. Still, a decent low cost signing.
Wouldn’t you?
If you go by WAR his best season was 2012 in Oakland…
Wrong……his best season was back in 2012 when he hit 32 hrs & had 85 rbis with the As.& actually had MVP votes (16). Stop with the cheating, it’s boring.
Forgot to mention he had a gold glove award that year (2012) as well, and stole 11 bases out of 12 attempts.
Highest single season wOBA, wRC+, OPS, BA, OBP, and actually a higher slugging percentage. He just didn’t match his home run total. In terms of offense, it was his best season by far.
mlb1225, We agree to disagree. His WAR was higher in 2012 & he hit 19 more hrs. in 2012. My point is he didn’t have to cheat to be a better ball player, his ability was always there. Is anyone sure he cheated? Did they come out with a list? IMO when you call someone a cheater, you damn well better be able to back it up. It’s not guilty because of association. I’ve been watching BB for 60+ years & have seen an array of tricks to get the upper hand by players. Some are obvious some are clandestine. The obvious are guilty. His involvement was not obvious to me.
Yes, they did come up with a list. There was an entire website dedicated to counting trash can bangs during all the Astro’s games in 2017. Care to guess who had the most bangs during his ABs in 2017? You guessed it, Josh Reddick.
Interesting ShieldF123, I checked the net before I listed my post & couldn’t find a list. Any chance you remember the name of that cite?
Not really. He’s been a below replacement level hitter since 2018 and at age-34, his defense has been slipping for years.
With their outfield depth, or lack thereof, I’m surprised Cleveland didn’t get in on him.
in other years, maybe. The Dolans are notoriously cheap, but this year is next level. Everyone but E Rosario is making less than Reddicks $750k, I think.
also factor in that they’re seeing what they have in Josh Naylor, trying to teach A Rosario how to play CF, letting Jake Bauers cut his own throat, and Bobby Bradley at AAA for some reason, and the roster is actually pretty crowded.
Why? Tyler Naquin is better than him and the Indians non-tendered Naquin in the offseason. Puig is better than him, but the Indians made zero effort to re-sign him after 2019 season. Puig has been unemployed since the 2019 season ended.
Finally, #FreeReddick pays off
Where’s the story abt the games being postponed?? MLBTR to scared to post????
Yes. The website is scared. You’ve figured it out. Now go get yourself a cookie.
COOKIE??? If it ain’t chocolate cake, it ain’t nuthin’…..
Chocolate cake is always the correct answer.
You’re scared to post
Clearly…..
Prove I’m wrong
Yup, everyone here is to afraid of an opinion that isn’t woke
Oh give me a break. No one is afraid of either of you idiots
quit crying
I live in Minneapolis.
So…back in the crucible for us.
But – hey – Free Stuff Matters!, right?
@ Ducky:
Are you belittling Black Lives Matter here?
White Boomers Don’t Matter
He’s triggered that black issues are actually being talked about, for once
Not exactly.
All I am saying – for whatever it worth – is that a lot of looting, crime, & violence is occurring (some of it quite close to my home) in the name of something else.
It’s merely about getting free stuff; booze, cell phones, cigarettes, Doritos, etc, man.
That should be understood by everyone whether it is effecting you personally, or not.
It’s cowardly & serves no other purposes than to threaten & to fulfill abject greed. There is nothing honorable, understandable, or just about it.
Gun shots a couple blocks away earlier. Obviously, I do not care for any of it.
That is not it at all, @dumbetc.
This is a classic example of argumentum ad bacalum. Race desperately needs to be talked about in my community, serious. Very much so.
What I’m seeing – however – is only going to create further division. I’m here. Ringside seats for all of it. These actions are completely destructive & will overwhelm any type of productive dialogue.
“Triggered”?
I can actually see three triggers in my living room right now.
Which totally sucks.
Over a quarter century ago, I was given some little pieces of metal, a bottle of pills for bad dreams, & a promise that I’d never have to fight again.
It’s more a feeling of “betrayed” than “triggered”. & it has not a thing to do with what you are accusing me of. If you’re actually interested.
I would like the violent disrespectful people to be arrested and find out who they are pretending to be. They are not the people who are peaceful demonstrators trying to bring about change. This happens everywhere, bad people co-opt the movements, the religions, the politics, et al and perform nefarious deeds under the guise of something worthy and capable of doing good deeds. Next thing you know hatred for particular groups grows thanks to these losers who have nothing to do with them. For example, Black Lives Matter, Muslims, Republicans are all paying dearly for the pollution of their ranks by scum. I respect equally all of those “institutions” but I cannot stand for the imposters who create this mess. I have two friends in Minneapolis through being a jazz musician. They are men of peace and would feel the same way. You are right, there needs to be a dialogue and some serious soul searching but first I believe we have to get our facts right. You sir are a good man. We need more.
Ducky Buckin Fent
It’s more a feeling of “betrayed” than “triggered”
====================================================
You guys were screwed. I was a happy camper when I got my number and found out I was too far down the list to worry about it.
Are you implying that black lives matter is all about looting?
Yes, change it from BLM to FSM (Free Stuff Matters). All BLM does is riot and steel !!!!
….and notice most of the riots are in Blue states, duh
I tried very hard to express myself clearly, intelligibly, non confrontationally, & in a non-inflammatory fashion.
It would appear – however – @1984 that I failed miserably in your case. Which is unfortunate, because that means I probably failed with multiple other posters too. Was hoping I’d perhaps done better.
Alas.
Not sure what else I can say.
But I hope you have a good day, nonetheless.
Where’s the story about you setting the world record for the lowest amount of functional brain cells in a living person?
you taught him everything he knows
After a slugging percentage that started with a 3 last season, his number of suitors went down significantly. He has to man up and get that in the .400s, at the very least. I’m surprised he didn’t start the WWE “diet” again, grow out the neckbeard, and power up.
“Capture” try cheat
I’m with u. I love pounding dogs n think that he iz cheater!
Reddick’s strength was always that he’s a primo fundamental player; never saw the guy miss the cutoff man or throw to the wrong base. And the bat is far from horrible. He’s a good depth pickup.
Once he won the World Series, he stopped trying. The only things he posted that offseason were pictures of Ferraris he was buying. Nothing about working hard to win another one. Then his hitting went downhill from there.
Great post Bob !
Man, the D-Backs sure love Astros’ retreads, don’t they?
Minor league deal. Nothing to lose, solid track record. Easy park to hit in.
Chase Field isn’t what it used to be since they installed humidor. Reddick has been trash since 2018 and OPS above .800 only once his entire career. He’s 34 years old.
I am surprised it took this long. Thought they would sign Reddick when Calhoun went down, Calhoun is back and now they sign him? Lets see if he actually gets a chance.
It’s possible that when Calhoun was down Reddick was thinking he could force them into giving him a guaranteed MLB deal vs a minor league signing. With Calhoun back he knows this is likely the best he’s gonna get so was more willing to sign now.
I forgot Reddick was even a free agent. I’m surprised the White Sox didnt take a look especially with injuries they have had.. and having him taking a minor league deal.
Good for Reddick! His last contract set him up for life so he doesn’t need to play baseball anymore to support his family. The fact that he’s been staying in shape, trying to find a roster spot and ultimately accepted a minor league deal shows me that he’s still hungry to play and loves the game of baseball. A great deal for Arizona; I hope he makes it up to MLB and has a great final (or penultimate) year to his career. He always plays the game hard and by all accounts he’s a great teammate too. Go get ‘Em Josh!
He should’ve signed with an NPB team and got more money. Definitely would have with a KBO team as well.
Still blush everytime I read his last
Name
Crazy how much better he hit in 2017.
I used to respect him as a grinder. No more.
st louis should have signed him
I loved Reddick. His bat declined, but his glove was always good and he stayed healthy.
something something trash can…cheater something something
And the Chronicles of Reddick continue….
I thought ChiSox would sign Josh Reddick when so many of their OFs went down. Maybe they think all those injuries won’t keep happening.
Not a bad guy to have on your bench. I’m sure Reddick will get pinch hitting opportunities. I wouldn’t play him more than three times a week.
What happened to Trayce Thompson? I just saw him looking like a chump In a D Backs uni this spring.