The Cincinnati Reds have named Jeff Graupe as assistant general manager. This was first reported by C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic.
This is a promotion for Graupe, who was named as the vice president of player acquisition and strategy before the 2022 season. He was previously the senior director of player personnel. Graupe was also the director of the team’s farm system from 2012-2018. In total he’s been working for the organization for 18 years.
This is the time of year that there are plenty of moves throughout front offices across baseball. We just saw Kim Ng leave the Marlins earlier this week as their general manager. Less than a month ago the Reds promoted Nick Krall to president of baseball operations (from general manager) and Brad Meador to general manager (from vice president, assistant general manager).
Meador’s promotion left the club with just one assistant general manager – Sam Grossman, who has served in that role for eight seasons. With the season coming to an end shortly after that announcement, the club didn’t need to rush into finding a replacement as they didn’t lose anyone, they simply promoted two people from within. Graupe now also gets a promotion from within as he joins Grossman as an assistant general manager with the club.
As things stand today, here’s how the front office seems to look (it’s possible there have been moves we don’t know about yet, or ones that are coming that we haven’t learned about yet):
- Nick Krall – President of Baseball Operations
- Brad Meador – General Manager
- Sam Grossman – Assistant General Manager
- Jeff Graupe – Assistant General Manager
- Chris Buckley – Vice President of Player Personnel
- Shawn Pender – Vice President of Player Development
- Jeremy Farrell – Senior Director of Player Development
There are also a handful of various special assistants to various roles, including but not limited to advisors to the CEO, general manager, player performance, and player development.
Who makes decisions on DFAs/trades?
Ultimately that falls on Krall (or at least did until he was promoted. It’s not entirely clear if that’s still his final decision or if it’s now on Brad Meador).
Yeah Doug, I’m unclear on who does or will do what.
Is that a feature or a bug? (lack of decision responsibility, that is)
We all know who has the FINAL say. 😉
Captain Kroger.
Obvious Q – what are the distinctions in Graupe and Grossmans’ roles? May not matter much, may matter a lot – the farm has been trending very well, so is Graupe in that silo? Given he was there 12 years ago and for some time since, he’s seen the whole transition from Jocketty to DW to Krall, so there may be continuity value if he’s overseeing that.
I recall someone mentioning that the farm system had a losing record this season – oh well.
The record of the farm teams is truly the most awful way to evaluate a team’s minor league system, so its no surprise its been mentioned on here.
I agree. If you are a manager, coach, or anyone above those positions, your first concern is development of their skills, physical and mental maturity along the way, not the wins they achieve. Minor league wins mean nothing in the long run. Only thing that matters is the players you produce who make it to the majors.
It’s a subtle reference to the comments to Doug’s end of season MiLB summary over at the RML site. The overall record was narrowly losing, basically due to Daytona being far under .500, but the other teams, and as you note more importantly, many players, had very good seasons.
Still – what was, and will be, Graupe’s role in that?
I have a bit of a disagreement about winning of the minor league affiliates.
A “winning attitude” and that kind of drive to win (and do all the things that it takes to win) is important to imbue in the minor league players that you hope to promote to the majors.
IF a minor league team (or system) consistently LOSES, what kind of attitude will these players have? YEah, I’m a major leaguer and going to someday make a lot of money. Winning? Well sure, as long as it’s not too much work.
Team executives should make an effort to field WINNING minor league teams. If your minor leagues are so lousy that they never win (finish above 0.500) then what is the outcome when these players are promoted? And basically, it takes pitching to win games, regardless of the level of play you are at.
Put the 16 players who graduated to MLB action back on milb rosters and leave them there all year and you will have winning records. Personally, I prefer what those rookies did for the Reds at the MLB level.
Spot On David! I live close to Chattanooga so I can/do attend several games ea season. Frankly, I’m somewhat shocked by the lack of fundamentals at that level. In contrast, I see a lot of Braves coverage as well, and their guys seem to b more advanced. Hate to say it & see it, but they seem more ML ready n so many ways
How many rookies did the Braves graduate to MLB this year? Asking for a friend. I think the Reds number was 16. Might also note that the Reds and the Braves players are all watching the playoffs from their couches.
Is a remote possibilty Kim Ng could join the Reds?
Given that the Reds just named a POBO and a new GM, no.