Reds with Plenty of Options at Hot Corner

The Cincinnati Reds didn’t waste any additional time. Once they started collecting former Cleveland Indians, they didn’t stop with Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Donald. On Wednesday, the Reds agreed to sign free agent third baseman Jack Hannahan, who had been non-tendered by the Indians earlier this month.

Hannahan lands with Cincinnati after Cleveland cut ties. Image: Eric P. Mull-USPRESSWIRE

Hannahan gets a one-year, $2 million deal from the Reds and figures to be used as a backup at the hot corner behind Todd Frazier. Hannahan is an elite defensive third baseman, but is not a tremmendous hitter. In parts of six big league seasons, Hannahan has mustered a .234/.316/.355 line. He has just 28 career home runs in over 1450 career at bats.

In addition to Hannahan, the Reds could have even more third base help on the way. Veteran Scott Rolen has indicated to the club that he’d like to come to Spring Training in hopes of playing one more year. The Reds seem more than willing to give him the opportunity to do so and Danny Knobler says Cincinnati thinks Rolen can still be a useful player on the field and in the clubhouse.

Rolen will be 38 in April and has been limited to just 157 games over the past two seasons. He’s posted a combined OPS under .700 in those campaigns.

Frazier isn’t a natural third baseman, but did play 73 games at the hot corner last season. He wound up with a third-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting after a 2012 season that saw Frazier club 19 home runs and post a .273/.331/.498 line in 128 games. Frazier has major league experience at all four infield positions, plus both corners of the outfield.

UPDATE (12/13): Hannahan actually gets a two-year deal with a club option for a third year. Quite a nice contract for the career journeyman.