The Cincinnati Reds have spent the entire offseason trading away their assets and trying to rebuild for the future.
Players such as Wade Miley, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez, and Tucker Barnhart have been shipped off to teams who are looking at trying to contend for the postseason in 2022.
Outfielder Nick Castellanos and pitcher Michael Lorenzen have also signed with other teams.
But despite their tanking strategy, the Reds have made a move that gives their now depleted lineup a boost, as well as confuses their fans.
Late Wednesday night, the Reds and free agent outfielder Tommy Pham agreed on a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2023.
The Reds lineup has a lot to make up for with the players they lost this offseason. Tommy Pham is a great fit for the current roster.
He gives them a right-handed starting outfielder and a proven every day player. While Pham only hit .230 last year, he’s a starter. https://t.co/FXJMVWPhWR
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) March 24, 2022
What Are The Reds Thinking?
This is a confusing move for the Reds.
It’s almost as if they can’t decide between committing to the rebuilding process or trying to contend and win.
At a certain point, they need to decide on one or the other.
But it’s confusing to see them add a piece after trading away so many pieces from their 83-win team from last season.
Pham is an aging player and someone like Winker still has plenty of good years left, so it’s puzzling that they would trade him and replace him by signing an aging veteran, especially when Pham hit just .229 in 2021 and hasn’t been the same since having three straight 20-plus home run seasons from 2017-2019 while with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.
So what are the Reds thinking with this move?
Are they expecting Pham to help them contend?
Or is this just a move to replace Winker and simply plug a hole?
Time will tell.
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