Soon after the 2014 All-Star break, it became apparent that the Reds needed to make a move. Some believed that the Reds needed to start selling, and rebuild for the future. Some believed that the Reds needed to improve their team for one last run in 2015, with the players they had under contract. Whichever side you were on, everyone knew the Reds had to do something. Standing by and hoping for the best simply would not cut it anymore.
We waited. And waited. And waited some more.
It was starting to look like the Reds and Walt Jocketty were simply going to roll the dice and hope for the best in 2015 with their current roster.
Then yesterday happened. Steve gave us great insight yesterday about the Reds big moves.
The most important thing that happened yesterday was that the Reds set a clear direction for the future. The Reds are going to rebuild a bit, and I think it is a great decision.
Some may disagree with me and say that the Reds have only halfway conceded right now for the future. Some of that may be true, but the Reds have now positioned themselves much better that if 2015 doesn’t work out, they can sell more at the deadline. The Reds have made it clear that they aren’t all in 2015. Even if the Reds were to go out and sign a guy like Melky Cabrera and another starting pitcher, they still wouldn’t be all in for 2015.
The Reds minor league system was not great before yesterday. Baseball America ranked the Reds minor league system 26th in October. The Reds needed to restock their farm system, or the Reds future would be in a lot of trouble. This is what the Reds acquired for two starting pitchers they likely wouldn’t resign after next season:
Pitcher, Jonathon Crawford – 2013 first round draft pick, and #2 prospect in the Tigers system
Pitcher, Anthony DeSclafani – #2 prospect in the Marlins system, who pitched at the AAA level last season (could make the 2015 MLB rotation)
Shortstop, Eugenio Suarez – MLB ready, 23-year old SS, who posted a .362 OBP over his career in the minors (played 85 games in the majors last season with an 85 wRC+)
Catcher, Chad Wallach – 2013 fifth round draft pick, who posted in a .906 OPS in single-A last season.
At first glance, it feels like the Reds got a steal from the Tigers for Simon (Crawford and Suarez), and didn’t get a great deal from the Marlins (DeSclafani and Wallach). However, the Simon deal was such a ridiculous steal that maybe we are undervaluing the Latos deal a bit.
Our friends at Fangraphs suggested however that DeSclafani might be better than Latos is 2015. Whether you believe that or not, the important thing here is that the Reds have finally set a clear direction. 2015 will be a little tougher for the Reds, but the future is a little bit brighter. The Reds got four players with around 24 total years of team control (six years each), for two players they were going to lose after the end of next season. Well done Walt Jocketty.
All prospect rankings courtesy of MLB Pipleline. All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs.