The World Series is now over, so that means free agency has officially begun. The Reds wasted no time making a bunch of moves this evening. Here they are:
— The Reds declined Skip Schumaker’s $2.5 million option for 2016. The Reds will have to pay Skip $500k as a buyout. Skip finishes his two year stint with the Reds having hit .238/.297/.322. Schumaker’s -2.4 Wins Above Replacement (fWAR) is tied for the 6th worst career mark in Reds history among position players. The five players with lower career fWAR with the Reds all played before 1951 with the exception of Todd Benzinger (-2.8 fWAR between 1989-1991). So long Skip.
— The Reds declined Burke Badnehop’s $4 million option for 2016. The Reds will have to pay Badenhop a $1.5 million buyout. This move seems a little puzzling considering the high buyout of only a $4 million contract. Badenhop started out the year really poorly for the Reds, but finished strong. Overall, Badenhop had a 3.93 ERA and 3.74 FIP. This move seems to signal that the Reds will be in a full rebuild mode in 2016.
— Sam LeCure was out-righted to AAA-Louisville. That move was to make way for injured players like Bailey and Mesoraco coming off the 60-man DL.
– Sean Marshall, Brayan Pena, and Manny Parra all became free agents today. The Reds could certainly still resign any of these guys, but the chances are probably pretty slim. It will be sad to see Pena go, but Tucker Barnhart seems to have solidified himself as a good backup catcher. Pena was really terrific to the Reds fans. Manny Parra was pretty solid in three seasons with the Reds, posting a 3.91 ERA and 3.45 FIP in 150 games. Sean Marshall was really great on that 2012 team after being demoted from the closer role. However, his Reds career was nothing but injury after injury. Oh what could have been.
Stay tuned…..it might be a busy off-season.