A week ago the Cincinnati Reds outrighted four players from the 40-man roster. Outfielders Travis Jankowski, corner infielder Matt Davidson, and relievers Jesse Biddle and Matt Bowman were all sent to Triple-A Louisville. As of today only Jankowski remains in the organization as Davidson, Biddle, and Bowman have all elected free agency.
Matt Davidson had some highs in his time with Cincinnati. The Reds power hitting corner infielder was mostly used as a pinch hitter and designated hitter during the year, and barely saw action against any right-handed pitching. But there was a stretch where he was doing damage against left-handed pitchers in the league. After not playing for 10 days, he came to the plate with the bases loaded in St. Louis with Cincinnati trailing 2-0 in the 6th inning, pinch hitting for Josh VanMeter. Davidson took Tyler Webb deep on his first swing and his grand slam wound up being the difference in a 4-2 win.
Things went south for Matt Davidson after that. He had one hit in his final 25 plate appearances. His OPS went from 1.110 on August 21st after that grand slam and dropped to . 629 by the time the season was over for him – which was on September 8th when he was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the alternated site at Prasco Park in Mason. That’s where he remained until the postseason, when he was added to the playoff roster for the series against the Atlanta Braves. While he would appear in the game as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning, he never completed the plate appearance as a caught stealing ended the inning and took him out of the game.
For relievers Jesse Biddle and Matt Bowman, the 2020 season at the big league level was just a blip on the radar. Biddle began the year on the alternate roster at Prasco Park and wasn’t recalled to Cincinnati until a month into the year. He pitched in one game before injuring his shoulder and being placed on the 10-day injured list. He never returned from the injury. For Bowman, he didn’t even get that much. The right-handed reliever was injured during spring training 2.0 and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in September. He did not appear in the Major Leagues during the 2020 season.
Of this group I think Matt Davidson will be the only one remembered for a while. His final hurrah is one of the worst plays I have ever seen. How many times in MLB playoff history has a pinch hitter been denied obtaining a result? Does that count as an AB? Ever heard of a 2B-Home attempted double steal with two outs? At best a knothole play (compliments of David Bell.)
The only more ridiculous stunt that comes to mind can be seen with a search of “Segura tries to steal second base twice in one inning” but at least that was mostly humorous instead of just sad.
David Bell will be working the phones this winter trying to get Davidson back .
Ha! That’s pretty funny, actually.
My oldest son played against Jesse Biddle when they played club ball. I will have to dust off the old scorebooks to see how they did against each other.
Forgive me, a little off topic. Seriously, what is it that Nick Krall is good at accomplishing: Is it player development, finding “diamonds-in-the-rough” in either the international or domestic market, making adroit trades, drafting high upside players, negotiating win-win free agent contracts?
He has been with the Reds since, I believe 2008, and I truly do not know what he is good at or why he is now President of Baseball Ops for the Cincinnati Reds.
Nick Krall’s ML experience consists of two years as a baseball operations intern in the Billy Beane A’s front office. He has been with the Reds since 2003, so this coming season will be his eighteenth year in the organization.
Hardly a surprise that these guys opted for free agency. With the season being over and contracts paid out, where is the draw in being a minor league free agent vs being an MLB free agent?? That’s what it comes down to.
However, per the MLB CBA, I believe the Reds are on the hook for Bowman’s TJ surgery rehab. Given the surgery didn’t happen till September, it seems mildly surprising he wasn’t signed to a minor league deal for 2021. Wonder if that was the team’s choice or his?
Jankowski also appears to meet the requirements to be eligible to opt out of assignment (3+ years of service time or having been previously outrighted). Wonder what is going on with him?
I’m confused about the Bowman situation. Always liked him, and if he’s not going to retire he’s worth retaining, but how will that work? With TJ a month ago, he’s out until 2022, correct? If he’s a FA, does that mean it will take a 2-year deal for any production? Is this just a pro-forma move for benefits/timing rights, and, if not, what value is there to him in going FA?
I don’t keep up on the contract stuff as closely as I used to but after thinking this through, here’s my guess.
Recall that there is no 60 day injured list in the off season. All players on major league deals count toward the 40 man roster; and those spots are precious, especially come Rule 5 draft time (typically the first week of December).
Also recall it is not unusual for teams to outright or release guys who are on long term rehab on the team’s dime (and I have no clue whether this entails compensation aside from medical care and rehab services) but then sign them to a minor league deal for the interim just to keep them under team control.
However there was no minor league deal here (so far) because Bowman opted for MLB free agency instead.
So, Bowman may be hoping that when spring camps open he can sign an MLB deal and be immediately put on the 60 day IL where he won’t count against a 40 man roster spot.
As you suggested, this would likely be a 2 year deal or at least a 1 year deal with a team option for a second season at a very low buyout on the 2nd year.
In Bowman’s case (an perhaps the others) I believe it’s just a matter of getting the opportunity to see what else is out there.
There’s nothing to prevent the Reds from signing any of these guys back sometime before spring training.
They may have even said, “go see what kind of deal you can get, and come back and talk with us before you sign”.
Remember, they allowed Aquino to become a minor league free agent a couple years ago before re-signing him to a minor league deal a week or two afterwards.
Ah, Matt Davidson, who was our OPENING DAY DH.
Also, just as embarrassing is Phil Ervin batting LEADOFF OPENING DAY.
Both now gone, and both may very well never get another Major League At Bat
There cannot be another organization where this happens, right?
My suggestion is for the team is for them to define REDS BASEBALL. It seems as though teams like the DODGERS, THE CARDS, ATLANTA, and A’s have more of a “mission statement” . I would go so far to as the successful teams have a particular type of player for their organization. Look at the BIG RED MACHINE players. Speed, defense, putting the ball in play, good knowledge of the game are all key aspects. A lineup stacked with HOF sdoesn’t hurt either. I think many will agree.
My suggestion is for the team is for them to define REDS BASEBALL. It seems as though teams like the DODGERS, THE CARDS, ATLANTA, and A’s have more of a “mission statement” . I would go so far to as the successful teams have a particular type of player for their organization. Look at the BIG RED MACHINE players. Speed, defense, putting the ball in play, good knowledge of the game are all key aspects. A lineup stacked with Hogs doesn’t hurt either. I think many will agree.
That exists. They just don’t make public declarations of it.