Cincinnati Reds front office, -3.8
As the Reds seek the right rebuilding formula, GM Krall has shipped in or out 35 players since the end of the 2021 season. Unfortunately, only nine of those moves produced a positive impact; 25 have so far turned negative.
Part of the reason is that the Reds’ off-season image was shaped more by departures than arrivals. Nick Castellanos went to free agency, Sonny Gray, Eugenio Suarez and Amir Garrett were all traded, and Wade Miley was waived. Some of those losses are being missed in 2022.
Here are the five most impactful moves over the season’s first half.
Nov. 4: The Reds were never really considered in the running to re-sign Castellanos, so his move to Philadelphia hardly qualified as a surprise. And it’s just possible that Krall knew what he was doing. In Philly, Castellanos has been a multi-million dollar disappointment. His average is below .250, he hasn’t generated much power, and his defense is below average. At the moment he’s carrying a -1.9 WAA, a burden the Reds hardly needed.
March 14: A six-player trade with Seattle cost the Reds both Suarez and Winker, and brought them almost literally nothing. The Reds got two minor leaguers plus injured pitcher Justin Dunn and Jake Fraley, who has had 48 plate appearances. The focus here is on Winker, who’s off to a .226 start in Seattle with a -1.3 WAA.
April 7: Rookie reliever Reiver Sanmartin made the opening day roster, was optioned out early in May, then recalled in mid-June. His has been a rough introduction. In 13 appearances, of of them starts, he lasted just 25 innings, running up a 9.72 ERA and an 0-4 record. That works out to a -1.2 WAA.
Nov. 29: In Aramis Garcia, the Reds thought they saw at least a partial answer to their catching situation. That’s why they signed Garcia, who had been released by the Athletics at season’s end, as a free agent. It hasn’t worked out yet. Garcia is off to a .221 start with the Reds, hitting one home run and driving in four runs. His .526 OPS works out to a -1.1 WAA.
April 7: Like Sanmartin, Alexis Diaz made the opening day roster as a bullpen option. Unlike Sanmartin, his stint has been a relatively trouble-free one. In 27 appearances across 30 innings, Diaz has a 2.40 ERA and 2-0 record, allowing less than half a hit per inning. That works out to a +1.0 WAA, among the five best on Cincinnati’s roster.