The Houston Astros are apparently willing to trade outfielder Jake Meyers and haven’t exactly been shy about it. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that Houston continues to “dangle” him in trade talks as they plan to move forward with a prospect at the position. Their general manager noted at The Winter Meetings on Monday that they are looking for starting pitching.
There’s a lot going on with Jake Meyers, but let’s start with the simpler stuff. He’s coming off of the best season of his big league career. He played in 104 games and hit .292/.354/.373 with three home runs last year. Meyers had a career best 16 stolen bases, 53 runs scored, and 2.4 WAR. He’s under team control through at least the 2027 season, but also has two options remaining. In 2025 he made $2,300,000 and in 2026 MLB Trade Rumors believes he will get a raise to $3,500,000 in arbitration.
The Reds need to add offense to a not-so-good lineup that’s returning from last season. Adding a light-hitting outfielder probably doesn’t help a ton. Meyers had a high average in 2025, but hit for next to no power. In the past he’s hit for a little more power as he had 23 home runs in 260 games between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. It seems that he may have traded trying to hit for power for trying to make contact. The power fell off in a big way in 2025 after being below-average for the rest of his career. But he also posted by far his best rate of contact in 2025 as he struck out 17.6% of the time and also set a new personal best walk rate at 8.1%.
Meyers entered 2025 with a career on-base percentage of .292 and a career OPS of .662. He did much better than that in 2025. The contact rate certainly helped his average and his on-base percentage. But so did a BABIP (batting average on balls in play, where the MLB league average was .291 in 2025) of .353. Before the season his BABIP was sitting at .290. You can see his career stats here.
So we know he made more contact, but outside of that, did anything in hit batted ball profile change that could help explain a much higher BABIP than what he’s done to that point in his career? He did start hitting ground balls more often and those do tend to turn into hits more than non-ground balls. He also chased the ball out of the zone less than he ever has before and he made more contact on pitches in the zone, and those two things do tend to lead to better results.
When we jump into his Statcast data with regards to hitting the ball we can see that his exit velocity was 88.1 MPH, which was worse than in 2024, but better than his 2021-2023 time in the big leagues. His barrel rate was by far the lowest of his career. The launch angle was down quite a bit at just 9.8°, which isn’t surprising given his increase in grounders hit in 2025. The “expected” stats were all career bests, though.
His bat speed did slow down some overall in 2025 compared to the previous two years. Is rate of “fast swings (defined as 75 MPH or higher) was down significantly and was just 5%. Out of 275 players with at least 500 “competitive swings” in 2025 Meyers bat speed ranked 252nd and his “fast swing rate” was 248th, which sandwiched him directly behind Gavin Lux and directly ahead of Tyler Stephenson. Elly De La Cruz (43rd) and Noelvi Marte (86th) are the only Reds returning players who even cracked the top 175 in “fast swing rate” on the list of 275 players, with Ke’Bryan Hayes being a distance third on the team at 189th. Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, Stephenson and Lux all ranked 220th or lower.
Of course, hitting isn’t everything. Defense matters, too. One can argue how much based on the position, and in some cases the ballpark. That’s where Jake Meyers has succeeded in his career. The center fielder has been outstanding in his big league time and was a Gold Glove finalist in 2024.
The financial cost for Jake Meyers isn’t much. What it would take to trade for him is a bit unknown. Similarly, what kind of bat you’re going to get is also a bit unknown. He clearly made changes from the past in 2025 and it resulted in a different kind of hitter. While he was a league average hitter during the season the question is can he be one long term or was the 29-year-old riding a higher than ever before in his career BABIP to success?
It would seem that if you take away his 2025 season you could call him a “glove first fielder” who you could bat at the bottom of your order? Do we need a guy like that with career batting line before last season of .228/.292/.371? Astros selling high? This is the kind of trade Krall would make and it kind of scares me. 🙂
It kind of works if we are moving on from TJ Friedl while upgrading CF defensively. But if we are keeping Friedl, we then have two non-power hitting OF.
It would seem Friedl is the all around best hitter of the two.
Friedl is a way better hitter than Meyers. The last thing the Reds need is another light hitting player in the lineup. On the days Trevino hits, which most people on this site would like him to be the everyday starter, the bottom 3rd of the lineup would be incredibly weak. Trevino,Hayes, Meyers.
This would be a very poor move! It’s waving the white flag. It’s doubling down on weak offense.
60 years ago today, the Reds made the worst trade in their history. Frank Robinson (HOF) for Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, and Dick Simpson.
Baldschun was released in 1967. Fortunately, Bob Howsam turned Pappas and Simpson into Clay Carroll, Tony Cloninger, Woody Woodward, Pedro Borbon, and Jim McGlothlin in 1968 and 1969. Each played a role on the BRM in the 1970s.
@Oldtimer Worst trade of my lifetime. I’m 72. Was going to Crossly field in the very early 60’s. My Dad was an employee of the post office on Dalton ave. A block over from Crosley. Saw many a game there.
Jim T, I’m 72 as well and I would put the Paul O’Neil for Roberto Kelly right there as well. However looking through an old box of my stuff (my wife has a less positive name for it) and found a little binder with the newspaper clipping of the Robinson trade. All we got for Roberto Kelly was Mike Kelly.
I think the Reds got Jim McGlothlin for Alex Johnson, if I remember correctly.
Reds traded Simpson for Johnson. Later traded him (and Ruiz) for McGlothlin, Borbon, and Geishert.
Got Foster in a trade that included Geishert.
@oldtimer. Ill see your Frank Robinson trade and raise you Christy Mathewson for Amos Rusie.
Yep.
As an add on to the trade list was the one that killed the BRM Perez for Fryman & spent arm Mike Marshall. Doggie was the heart & soul and the clubhouse enforcer. We won 2 titles with Tony and that trade hurt.
Perez and Will McEnaney for Fryman and Dale Murray (not Mike Marshall).
Bad trade but nowhere near as bad as Robinson trade.
Found this on ESPN website. One man’s opinion.
Doolittle: Maybe it’s because I am overly susceptible to rumors that tickle my penchant for anti-Wolfean narratives, but I’ll say Schwarber will sign with his hometown Cincinnati Reds. It’s such a perfect fit, and not just because of Schwarber’s ties to Cincinnati. The Reds have a real chance to contend in the NL Central with the right upgrade on offense. And what an upgrade — Schwarber’s swing is perfect for Great American Ballpark, which has featured more homers from visiting lefty hitters over the past five years than any other venue (including 96 more than Citizens Bank Park). Even at 32, give Schwarber five healthy seasons at that park and he’ll reach 500 Career bombs.
Just my 2 cents but I’d rather have Pete Alonso if the money is no factor. A few less HRs, but fewer strikeouts and more walks plus a couple years younger. Just more certainty I would think.
*a lot less walks
I would too if there was a choice. The only reason the Reds have a chance at Schwarber is because he was born here. Pete Alonso wasn’t born here so I doubt he would sign with the Reds unless all the big markets pass on him. Which is unlikely IMO.
If the Reds don’t sign Schwarber it’s back to Jake Meyers, Wil Myers or whoever.
A lefty slugger would balance out the lineup.
The pie-rats offered 120 over 4. I doubt cheap Phil, will even come close.
Schwarbar is not signing with the deads.
Schwarber signing w Phillies 5yr/150M
Never in doubt. Krall was simply performing for the public. It was never a real possibility. Odds are it’ll be another meaningless pickup like Austin Hays.
I’m shocked, SHOCKED I TELL YOU that the Reds didn’t sign Schwarbar. 😀
I sincerely feel bad for those who had their hopes up. It would seem like there were a lot who did.
To be honest I didn’t have good feelings about paying that much money to him anyway.
Signed with Phillies. 5 years $150M
The Frank Robinson trade looked good at the time, as most trades do. The Reds needed pitching, and Baltimore had a lot of it at the time. That trade, of one of baseball’s all-around great players, still hurts.
It never looked good to me. Pappas was good P but Robinson was superstar OF.
Baldschun never pitched for Orioles.
Yeah, they needed pitching and could have gotten it without trading Robby.
My Dad always used to say that the worst trade the Reds ever made was trading the best pinch hitter/ sometimes LF Jerry Lynch to the Pirates for 31 year old LF Bob Skinner. I will never forget that, as my Dad complained about it from the day it happened til the day he died.
I thought the offseason plan was to ADD offense?
I’m not sure the Reds need another #9 hitter. But if he doesn’t hit any worse than Benson or Friedl, but provides better defense, it would be an upgrade.
I think that Frank Robinson was looked to at the time as being kind of a troublemaker in the clubhouse (he wasn’t) by the Front Office. Frank did have a couple of times he ran afoul of the police in Cincinnati (people forget what things were like then). And they also thought he was “past his prime”, and in 1966 for the Orioles he won the Triple Crown.
So yes, in retrospect, it was a bad trade. Milt Pappas was supposed to be the center of the trade and was supposed to be a frontline pitcher. He wasn’t.
In the early 60’s Frank Robinson began to speak out on equal rights. He was threatened and treated badly. His wife was in real estate and saw discrimination when attempting to buy a home.
robinson was subjected to serious threats and began to keep a gun in his car for protection. as far as i know, possessing that was the only time he ran afoul of the law. he also was turned away when he tried to buy a house in my hometown of wyoming, and who knows where else in the suburbs. for all that and more he got labeled “bitter” and a “troublemaker.” and tossed aside as an “an old thirty.”
It was a bad trade on December 10, 1965 (the day after) and ever since.
The Reds are cornering the market on #9 hitters. He seems to be the outfield version of Ke’Bryan Hays.
But Defense! 🙂
I have no idea what the Astros would want for this guy, but most everything would be too much. Maybe a prospect? Don’t really see the need for him, based on what the Reds already have.
He sounds like a clear upgrade to CF to me, pushing other guys to the corners where I’m sure they’re an upgrade as well (fingers crossed RF gets locked down, there’s a chance that happens). I guess in my mind is if a player improves the team, then I’m all for it. I dislike nitpicking on players that have some flaw to their game but are strong in others. The OF needs a CF just as bad as it needs a masher in a corner. I’ve no problem with Friedl in LF. All depends on the cost of course, just gotta hope you trade the right lottery ticket. But I think pretty simply about it – If it improves the team, I’m open.
Well, they need a center fielder
In addition to the lack of power and short history as a decent hitter, my question is why did he only play 104 games?
He was tired?
Ankle injury
I can see some merit to this idea. It would really improve the OF defense by allowing Friedl to play LF over who we have currently as options in Steer and Lux, neither has proven to be a good OF defender. It may also eliminate the need to carry Benson because you’d have two capable CF’ers on the team already and the bench spot could be used on a better bat.
Based on wRC+ last season it would go Meyers 107, Lux 102, Steer 97 so it’s possible that it’s an offensive upgrade over what we currently have.
At the same time I think we could hope for more offensive improvement than what Meyers offers, but the question of who exactly still lingers. If the cost isn’t too much at the very least Meyers is an upgrade from Benson, IMO.
Benson has a high swing and miss, issue but he’s decent in the outfield. Not what we need and is not a good pinch hitter. Lux is not an outstanding or even good outfielder. Meyers sound like a decent fielder and had a good year hitting, but is not much better than we have now. We need someone who can thump the ball, not a good fit. Keep looking.
I like Gavin Lux. I wish he was better in the OF. So, here ya go.
No reason in the world to make a trade for Meyers. If it happens, it just proves that Krall is incompetent.
I think the interest is genuine in part because of what Francona told Charlie Goldsmith the other day. In short, he fessed up to overplaying EDLC, Friedl, and Steer (the first 3 weeks when Steer talked his way onto the opening day roster despite being injured). That was refreshing yet maddening to hear. He acknowledged he has to do better in finding ways to rest these guys. If the Reds acquire Meyers, you then have a starting caliber center fielder with Friedl becoming his backup while taking most starts in LF. That makes a ton of sense because it gives you legit starters at those two positions while still allowing some roster flexibility in case of a breakout from Hinds. Meyers also fits the profile of Krall and Meador wanting more contact oriented hitters…..which is partly why I think a Schwarber deal is pie in the sky. He’s also affordable, so cynically you have to think the probability of this deal is far more likely than signing a big bat.
I got it, we need 9 9 hole batters. No one with a OPS of close to 800,
go deads.
Uh, unless it’s something like Carlos Jorge for Jake Meyers, that’ll be a pass.
Hmm…I don’t know. I was thinking about what’s the cost more than I was thinking about what’s the upside.
I don’t think I’d go for him. We need to add power, and that’s not this guy.
Get Schwarber, and trade for a guy that could hit 25 to 30 HR’s. It’s going to cost some good prospects, but we need to add some serious pop to this lineup.
I wonder what this means (if anything) regarding Kyle Schwarber. If the Reds sign Schwarber you have to think Steer moves to left field and Stewart takes over first base.
Does this move mean the Reds have moved on from Schwarber? Or does it means this guy becomes the fourth outfielder. I assume it’s the latter but who knows?
Or does it mean that Steer becomes a super utility guy?
I don’t think this means anything in regard to Schwarber. This isn’t the type of player to majorly effect the roster or payroll.
Steer is a good player, but his best quality is his ability to play wherever the club needs him. LF/1B/2B/3B
Let’s say we do trade for Meyers and sign Schwarber
1 EDLC (SS) 2 McLain (2B) 3 Schwarber (DH)
4 Marte (RF) 5 Friedl (LF) 6 Stephenson (C)
7 Stewart (1B) 8 KBH (3B) 9 Meyers (CF)
The problem with this lineup is we have no real power in the 5 hole. I’d rather sign/trade for a guy we could plug in at the 4, or 5 hole with some real pop.
Trevino (C) Urbaez (INF)
Steer (INF/OF) Hinds (OF)
Trade Lux, and Steer is basically an everyday player but in multiple positions until the need arises for him to cover a position for an injured starter.
It’s odd to me that the Reds somehow get molded into a “rumor” about being interested in a guy who isn’t better than Hector the Hit Collector, Ryan Villade, Carlos Jorge or the player named Convertum deShortstop.
Shoulda kept Villade and removed this “story” from contention.
Looking at 3 names, free agent Harrison Bader and 2 through a trade with there rankings as best centerfielders No. 4: Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
No. 5: Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies just something to think about.
MLB. Com is reporting that Schwarber could sign before the end of the winter meetings (tomorrow). I don’t know. Schwarber seems to me the only true difference maker the Reds are likely to obtain. If the Reds don’t sign him, I don’t see the offense improving in 2026.
They made the playoffs last year but it was a real struggle. I don’t see them doing that in back to back years without some improvement to the offense.
I agree with you. Even though they snuck in the playoffs i found the reds extremely difficult to watch due to lack of offense. The 2023 and 2024 versions of the reds were a much more exciting teams to watch.
The reds do need an offensive facelift Alonso or Schwarber. If they dont get i expect a big dip in ticket sales in 2026
He is signing back with the Phillies. 5 years 150 million. Mlb trade rumors
Yup, Schwarber back to phillies.
Schwarber sign with Philly. Should be out soon
Gross. Was hoping we got him.
It’s out
Would have loved to have him, but a career .231 hitter at 32 getting a five year deal is a scary thing no matter what your payroll is. These types of guys generally roll quickly off a cliff as they age, see Chris Davis.
I can think of one scenario where this makes sense, and it involves trading away Gavin Lux who is a similar (albeit probably slightly better) hitter but a terrible defender. If Lux is primarily an OFer for the Reds, then Meyers makes more sense on the team than Lux.
Looks like Lux will be the Reds DH in 2026.
Yes. If Reds are trying to acquire Meyers as an OF rotational piece where Lux is not in that mix, it makes sense.
That’s what I was thinking, too.
Lux had highest BA and highest OBP among Reds regulars in 2025. Neither was great but best among Reds in 2025.
Well this offseason is a fail. Welcome to Cincinnati Jake Meyers our big offseason upgrade.
ESPN said the Reds were not able to meet the financial commitments of the other teams. I believe going back to Philly was always his first choice, I think it would’ve taken a huge deal to get him to sign here. The Reds got some PR out of this whole Schwarber sweepstakes at least.
Trying to think when is the last time the Reds made a bold trade. Not to receive prospects or a maybe, could be difference maker. I mean BOLD: our loaded artillery for yours. Guys who aren’t even discussed as trade bait right now. It’s that time, especially w Schwarber off the table. Like … Lodolo (and maybe a prospect) for the proven power so sorely needed.
They tried that with the Dodgers a few years back, remember? Puig and Co.
Seven years ago. Partly a salary dump (Bailey). I’m thinking bigger, a win-win for two teams.
Same thing I suggested in previous thread.
Hopefully the Reds will now sign multiple FA’s with the $$$ they had earmarked for Schwarber.
You mean spend the money they had not intention of spending?
exactly – Its all PR BS
I wouldn’t hate this in a vacuum, but I’m higher on Meyers than most and I think there might be some breakout there. He would probably be the Hays replacement and assumedly would come fairly cheap in terms of both prospects and dollars. There’s some value to adding another decent OBP / WAR guy to the lineup, and maybe playing at GABP brings the power up a little. I also think this wouldn’t necessarily mean they would be “done” for the offseason either, as they would likely look to add some power at the DH spot. And I don’t think this would mean that Friedl would be on the move, as he probably shifts to LF and you’re looking at 2/3 of a solid defensive outfield.
As far as the Schwarber thing, I’m a combination infuriated, frustrated, and admittedly, I also kinda get it. Infuriated because it seems like we never want to spend money on anything. Frustrated by MLB’s inability or lack of desire to fix what’s clearly a broken system (why not just move every team to New York or LA? I mean seriously, if we want to cater to the big market fans, that’s the best way!). And yet, if the payroll is that limited in reality, I kinda get not spending $150 million in that manner. To Krall’s credit, they’ve been way more creative about spending the funds they do have in a manner that has the team both financially flexible and somewhat competitive. Moves like this Meyers rumor are what teams with smaller payrolls kinda have to do, even if they don’t feel that impactful in the moment. And they don’t cripple the team financially in the long term, which means more of a prolonged competitive window than if they sign a guy to a huge contract and then he doesn’t pan out.
A random trade idea to throw into the winter wind:
McLain and Lowder for Ketel Marte
I realize this would be selling low on both McLain and Lowder… but, I don’t know, any chance this might get Arizona’s attention?
Glad Schwarber is off the board already so we don’t have to hear about it any more.
It was always an extreme longshot, and I don’t think the Reds were even remotely in the conversation, financially.
If they weren’t Schwarber’s hometown team, they wouldn’t have been in the conversation at all.
So let’s see what reclamation project the Reds overpay for this winter.
I’m not at all excited about a pivot to Suarez. He has a .313 OBP over the past 3 years to go along with a 29.4% K%. Plus, they would be tempted to play him at 3B over Hayes at times – which is a major mistake. He is nowhere near the defender that Hayes is and teams that favor offense at the sake of defense are never contenders.
What Suarez is though is great in the clubhouse. He also ALMOST put SEA in the World Series.
Please no Suarez.
Geno hit .189/.255/.428 for Seattle. Josh Naylor was the acquisition who almost put Seattle in the WS.
And of course the Dodgers spend big on Diaz. 3 years for $69M. Fans better revolt if they don’t do anything to fix the massive inequalities with the next cba.
Little Earl:
I hear you. However, these owners (multiple for every team) have billions. The Dodgers spend their capital. Many teams don’t. Cleveland’s ownership are among the richest in the entire league. Back in the day, the Reds were always top 3-10 in payroll.
I don’t blame the Dodgers. I blame the cheap ownership groups that should not own teams at all. They are not interested in competing whatsoever. They want to make even more profits, so I guess they can take it with them?
I hope we don’t have another press conference about what we tried to do….
It’s an annual tradition now.
If the Reds “pivot from Schwarber” and acquire Meyer to play CF and move Friedl to LF, two of our three starting OF will have combined for 17 HRs and 37 doubles.
Yes, Meyer only played 100+ games but humor me. These two guys named Jake Friedl and TJ Meyer would have put up seasons 8.5 HR and 18.5 doubles each. So I just can’t see it.
Whoever above said the aim would be making Meyer a fourth OF, ie vs. Lux, is probably on target. And cleaning up this roster of too many of the same players with similar limitations playing the same position would be welcome. Even still, no reserve OF with a little pop? Please Santa?
Resign Austin Hays, Miguel Andujar, Scott Barlow, and Taylor Rogers with the cash we saved not signing Kyle Schwarber. That’s more in line with the Reds modus operandi. Just glad the suspense of signing Schwarber is mercifully over.
No Hays please – I was amped last year when we signed him and a Phillies fan warned me about his injuries and of course that is exactly what happened. Would like to see Andujar and Rogers back.
Jake Meyers has a DRS of +15 over the past 3 years. Friedl has a DRS of -15 over the same 3 year period.
Friedl’s quality is his speed and that will decline in his 30’s.
If we were really in the hunt for Schwarber then why are we now not talking about Bo Bichette? Talk about a perfect fit at SS and also allowing us to move the error prone ELDC to the outfield. One signing solves two problems. Maybe Dad Dante could put in the good word for us.
Bichette is not a much better SS than Elly.
Knowing how Krall operates , this is a ver likely trade to be made…they want to fill the Reds with weak hitters who could hit singles on short lines
The Reds are trying to progress about one inch with this possible move. Hopefully, they find something better.
It seems other more serious teams are sitting at the table trying to figure out how they can actually improve the team. You can find the Reds on the floor near the table on their hand and knees, checking out the scraps. Oh, they have five to ten million in their pocket.