Jan. 20: Reynolds accepted his assignment to Louisville, the Reds announced. He’ll be invited to Major League camp in spring training.
Jan. 19: Infielder/outfielder Matt Reynolds has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Louisville, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Reynolds was designated for assignment last week when the club signed right-hander Luke Weaver.
Reynolds, 32, began last season with the Mets but went to the Reds on a waiver claim in April. He’d long put up good number in Triple-A but hadn’t been able to reproduce them at the big league level. The rebuilding Reds gave him a shot and kept him on the roster for the rest of the season, sending him up to the plate 272 times. He drew walks at a healthy 9.6% clip but also struck out 28.7% of the time and only went deep three times. He finished the season with a .246/.320/.332 batting line and an 81 wRC+, indicating he was 19% below league average.
While his bat fell short of the MLB mean, he did at least provide the Reds with plenty of defensive versatility. He suited up at the seven non-battery positions and even made two mop-up appearances on the mound, meaning that the only position he didn’t play was catcher.
It seems that wasn’t enough to entice any of the 29 other clubs around the league, with all of them passing on the chance to add Reynolds to their 40-man. As mentioned by Rosecrans, Reynolds has the right to reject his outright assignment and elect free agency. That’s due to the fact that he’d previously been outrighted in his career. Whether he’ll accept that assignment or not remains to be seen.
I remember the day Reynolds was drafted by the Mets. I said to myself, “Why would they waste a 2nd rd pick on someone who projects as a AAAA utility player”
Yet I’m constantly told how the “experts in the industry know better”
Maybe they were trying to save slot money
Yeah they should have drafted Travis Jankowski, one of the best outfielders in baseball
This is my whole point. You’re part of the confederacy of dunces that come to a consensus to draft Matt Reynolds with the 2nd rd pick
Meanwhile the 1 or 2 people who know want to go with Alex Wood with that pick
Sadly they are outnumbered and overruled by you and the others
Thanks, Captain Hindsight.
Why is WRC+ always cited? I could be wrong but it compares the player to league average which is meaningless to me. Why not compare by position and separately again for pinch hitters? That would be more useful to at least me. I realize I’m not into fantasy nor do I compare contracts. I just find it a waste to always mention it, especially when I feel the traditional stats are underappreciated. To me a .230 average stinks unless the player has 30 bombs or 80 runs knocked in to go with it.
@deweybelongsinthehall
I think you just answered your own question. You just referred to 3 stats to get a partial evaluation of a batter’s ability. You would also have to look at BB%, Power numbers (other than HR), etc. to get a more complete picture of a batter’s ability. Then some how try to figure out how to compensate for the size of parks because power is better in small parks. And after that determine what an average is.
Or, look at wRC+.
I just think to mention it with every hitter is meaningless. Compare a catcher for example to the average catcher is more important to me. Also, most center fielders first priority is defense so to compare to even all outfielders doesn’t tell much of a story. I also still can’t believe MLB took away the shift instead of forcing hitters to actually learn how to hit. If anything, the lack of a shift will cost owners and ultimately even more by most likely increasing a hitter’s stats. I can picture Boras’ already creating new stat books for next year’s arbitrations.
@deweybelongsinthehall
I understand what you are saying, but there are a couple of things to unpack. Using position by position comparison is pretty meaningless since one is offensive and the other defensive. Second, smaller sample sizes (you’d be reducing the plate appearances by position to about one nineth, including DH). Larger sample sizes are better. Third, if you want to see how catchers performed offensively relative to other catchers, Fangraphs can give you that information.
My point was apparently missed. I don’t care about new type stats because Ii have no financial interest. I root for “my team” and the game for fans is not like years past. Too much emphasis is placed in stats that have made the game boring. Reminds me of the NBA which is boring with all the three point shots.
I can remember my Dad saying NBA was boring because it was nothing but Dunks…
I say this respectfully, you should really look at how wRC is derived. If you understand OPS at all it’s not a real huge leap. The fact that you are critical of WRC+ as being not specific enough and then suggests that a .230 ba with 30 hrs and/or 80 rbi is somehow a better evaluation of a hitters performance is a bit humourous.
Why? My comment was meant in general. BA is plummeting because everyone is so impressed with home runs. I was thinking of the old Brewers and Gorman Thomas when I originally posted. He was a good centerfielder and with his power would make a killing today yet back in the day, he was an after thought after Yount, Molitor, Cooper, etc. I realize that’s two HOFers and a third who was close but he was never thought of as an All-Star or a game changer like those with his stats are considered today. And you’re right, I use my eyes to consider players. I’m not an agent, a player or management. I just want to watch quality baseball, something that saberstats have made it hard to do.
He was an all star in ’81 and top 10 mvp in ’79 and ’82. He was pretty good ’78-’82 and his wRC+ for those years reflects it.
BA is important. It’s mathematically part of WRC+. But 3 hrs in 10 AB’s will always be immensely more productive than 3 singles.
I didn’t realize he made an All-Star team, etc. My bad on that but when you of those Brewers teams, he’s an afterthought the way with Boston around then Butch Hobson was. He had a thirty home run season and yes his defense was bad. When you think of those Sox teams, he was never a first breath name. Same with Thomas who would be looking and getting megabucks today. And of course three home runs are looked at differently than three singles. But you take a player who learns how to hit and he’ll likely have 50 more hits than the all or nothing slugger (if not more over the course of a season). Over 500 ABs, a .200 hitter has 100 hits. A .300 hitter has 150. While there are exceptions, I’m looking for that .300 hitter than I am the .200.
Thought this was referring to Mark Reynolds at first.
Don’t remind me. I had Mark as a slam dunk to become the all-time whiff leader.
I looked him up. Hard to believe he’s only 39!
I got him confused with Matt Davidson from the Sox at first. I remembered him from AAA. What I thought was a decent signing at first went to “oh”.
And I thought they were referring to Burt Reynolds as being released by the Reds is true deliverance!
Might be drawing the evening shade closed on his career
A very capable glove, especially in the IF, too bad his bat does not follow not even close.
I always get him confused with former major leaguer Mark Reynolds. Did Mark Reynolds get any HOF Votes?
Mark Reynolds won’t be HOF voting eligible for 2 more years.
@dewey. All 3 of your comments, (not that it’s relevant that I agree or disagree) you keep changing the topic and goalposts. Its a rant (which is fine) but its as if your asking questions, when your not really looking for answers.
—
Why use this stat and not this one?
Answer.
Yeah but my point was the shift.
Answer.
Yeah but Gorman Thomas wasn’t considered good.
Answer. Yes he was.
I hate stats. I trust my eyes.
I want better contact
Of gorman Thomas perception. Im not really a brewer fan. But I know the wallbangers. You mentioned yount and Molitor. But gantner 2b was really good.
Ted simmons was a near hof.
Oglivie, money, cecil copper had half hof career stats or more. I dont even know what the point of this exercise is.
Thanks Cadagan. I remembered more of the lineup but chose not to list more. How could any Red Sox fan around then not remember the two George Scott traded. Getting him back gutted their depth (Cooper, Oglivie, Billy C, etc.). Sorry about changing topics but I’m getting older (lol). Learned how from the spouse…Anyway, they don’t care about the older fan yet who is taking the kids to a game when mom and dad are working to support a family today? They say kids don’t want to watch for so long. The truth is the product today absent certain events that happen (i.e. Judge’s magnificent HR chase, seeing Ohtani in person, etc.), the game is now too boring for just about all but the gambler. I’m hoping strategy returns with no more shifting but I’ve said it so many times before:. why reward hitters for not learning how to hit and why not limit teams to a staff of 11 pitchers so they won’t overthrow? I always go back to the 75 WS when Captain Hook only had nine pitchers. Even without a DH, that’s impressive when compared to WS roster construction in recent years. Bring back, double-switching, bunting, sacrifices, lefty-righty moves, hit and runs, etc. Also get rid of the three batters rule. If the staff is limited to 11, there would not be a need.
I remember when 10 pitchers on a staff was standard.
Sparky played his bullpen like a grand piano though too.
Yep. Even after the DH was instituted in I think 73, the staffs remained at 10.
I loved how Sparky managed his staff. He didn’t wait until the horse was gone to close the barn door.
What will David Bell do without Reynolds and Kyle Famer?
I’m sure he’ll find someone else they signed in their dumpster diving.
I think they only have about 19 shortstops in camp to go with those four outfielders.
There goes our clean-up hitter smh