A week ago today the Cincinnati Reds announced their caravan stops, as well as who would be coming along for each of the four legs of the tour. Today they added a few more attendees, with at least one for at least part of each leg of the tour.
New left-handed starting pitcher Alex Wood and broadcaster Brian Giesenschlag have been added to the Columbus, Ohio stop of the North Tour. They’ll join Sal Romano, Cody Reed, Jeff Piecoro, Buddy Bell, and Shawn Pender for the fun on January 17th at Polaris Fashion Place from 7-9pm. Minor Leaguer Brantley Bell has also been added to the North Tour. He will be at all of the stops (Columbus, Dayton, Lima, Hamilton, Florence).
Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan isn’t joining a specific tour, but he will take part in two different places between two different legs of the tour. Morgan is making an appearance at the Athens, Ohio stop as well as the Nashville, Tennessee stop. The Athens stop will be on January 17th at the Athens Community Center from 6:30pm-8:30pm. The next day, on January 18th Morgan will appear at the Nashville stop at CoolSprings Galleria from 5-7pm CST.
Like Joe Morgan, majority owner and CEO Bob Castellini will be joining multiple legs of the tour. He will be in both Athens and Nashville. He will also be at the Dayton, Ohio and Batesville, Indiana stops. That gives him one stop on each leg of the tour. The stop in Dayton will be on January 19th from 11am-2pm at the National Museum of the US Air Force. Later that day he will join up with the West Tourn in Batesville at the Southeastern Indiana YMCA from 4-6pm.
Here’s your disclaimer from the Cincinnati Reds:
*Player appearances, schedule and locations subject to change. Seating is limited at all caravan stops. Autographs will be done on a first-come, first-served basis while time allows. No posed photographs. There may be restrictions on items celebrities can sign.
In other news… The ChiSox DFA’s Charlie Wilson who can play centerfield. Cheap.
Any interest here?
Per Steve Adams at mlbtraderumors.com, the Sox viewed Tilson “as a potential long-term option in the outfield, but the speedster suffered a torn hamstring in his MLB debut that largely derailed his opportunity in his new organization….A career .266/.321/.356 hitter in parts of two Triple-A seasons, Tilson does have a minor league option remaining, making it possible that teams with outfield needs (specifically in center) could take a look either in a minor trade or via the waiver wire.”
We have 5 outfielders currently, and 6 if you count Senzel.
I would not add another until they were a clear improvement both offensively and defensively.
It would be nice to have a true CF for the west coast trip, but they can always find one later. They should probably sort out the bats they have and try to work a trade with the odd man out. Kemp’s contract is tough to move. I would think Schebler or Winker might be dealt, or Ervin even although he is probable the best CF of them… but regardless someone has to go, I don’t see how they can roll the whole way with that many corner outfielders and no true CF it wouldn’t make much sense.
On a slow sports day the Reds resign Mason Williams to a minor league deal with an invite to ST.
From Rotoworld:
Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports tweets that the Reds are still interested in acquiring Sonny Gray from the Yankees.
Heyman mentions that Gray is close to new Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson, who was Gray’s pitching coach when he was at Vanderbilt. The question really has become now whether or not Gray is available, with reports stating that the Yankees may not want to move the right-hander until they’re sure CC Sabathia will be ready for spring training. Heyman also notes that the Yankees are interested in several Reds pitching prospects, including Tony Santillan, Vladimir Gutierrez and Keury Mella.
The Reds better keep Santillan…