Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds reportedly signed Wil Myers to a one-year, $7.5 million contract on Thursday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The deal can reach up to $9.5 million "based on playing time or if he's traded," per that report, and includes a mutual option for 2024.

Mayers was excellent for the San Diego Padres in 2020, hitting .288 with 15 homers, 40 RBI, 34 runs and a .959 OPS in 55 games. Paired with players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, he gave the Padres one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball.

It was an important bounce-back year for Myers, who played in just 83 games in 2018, hitting .253 with 11 homers, 39 RBI and 39 runs, as a left oblique strain and a left foot bone bruise cost him time on the disabled list. In 2019, he played in 155 games but disappointed, hitting just .239 with 18 homers and 53 RBI.

After hitting 28 homers in 2016 (which earned him a trip to the All-Star Game) and 30 home runs in 2017, Myers established himself as a solid power hitter, though his time on the shelf in 2018 limited that productivity and his power numbers were lacking in 2019 compared to previous heights.

The 31-year-old's 2021 season regressed to his form in 2018-19, however, as he hit .256 with just 17 homers and 63 RBI in 146 games. And he was far worse in 2022, hitting .261 with seven homers and 41 RBI in just 77 games.

Getting on base has remained an issue, as Myers has a career .254 batting average and .315 on-base percentage. Since hitting .293 in his 2013 rookie season, earning him AL Rookie of the Year honors, he hadn't hit .260 or higher until the 2020 campaign.

That made him the subject of trade rumors throughout last season, though the Padres couldn't find any takers. And it made it fairly unsurprising when the team declined his $20 club option in 2023.

But his defensive versatility—the former Tampa Bay Rays man has spent time at third base, left field, right field, first base and even center field during his career—and his past history of pop at the plate clearly made him an attractive target for the Reds.

Whether he can return to the level he played at in 2020 remains to be seen.

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning died on Monday, according to the Boone County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky. He was 62.

The Reds released the following statement:

His former teammate, Barry Larkin, was among those who paid their respects to Browning after learning of his death:

Brown spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball between the Reds (1984-94) and Kansas City Royals (1995), finishing his career 123-90 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 1,000 strikeouts.

He was an All-Star in the 1991 season and won a title with the Reds in the 1990 campaign. He also finished as the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1985 and was sixth in the Cy Young voting that year after going 20-9.

His career highlight came in 1988 when he threw a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 12th perfect game in MLB history. He struck out seven in the game, beating the team that would go on to win the World Series that year. It remains the only perfect game in Reds' history, and one of 23 in MLB history.

He was dubbed Mr. Perfect after that performance, a nickname he found somewhat amusing.

"I was only perfect for an hour and 52 minutes," he wrote in the book Tom Browning's Tales From the Reds Dugout (h/t Joe Cox of SABR.org). "Most of the other time, I was imperfect—and stubborn, immature, and even a bit of a wiseass."

But forever a part of Cincinnati history.

Looking for pitching depth heading into next season, the Cincinnati Reds could turn to a familiar face for help.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Reds have shown interest in bringing back Johnny Cueto.

The right-hander made his MLB debut with Cincinnati in 2008 and spent seven-and-a-half seasons with the organization.

The Reds could face competition to sign Cueto. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reported Wednesday the Toronto Blue Jays have shown interest in Cueto, even after agreeing to a three-year deal with Chris Bassitt.

If Cueto is looking for an opportunity to win, the Blue Jays have a lot more to offer than the Reds.

Cincinnati's starting rotation features Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Luis Cessa, Graham Ashcraft and Justin Dunn. Lodolo is the only member of that group who had a sub-4.00 ERA in 2022 (3.66).

Reds starters ranked 20th in MLB with 809.2 innings pitched last season. Greene led the way with 125.2 innings.

Cueto is coming off two straight effective seasons. The 36-year-old had a 4.08 ERA in 22 appearances with the San Francisco Giants in 2021.

Cueto signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox in April. He made his season debut May 16 and finished with a 3.35 ERA in 158.1 innings.

Cueto was one of the best pitchers in baseball during his first stint with the Reds. He had a 2.48 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 102 starts over four seasons from 2011 to 2014. The Dominican Republic native finished in the top four in NL Cy Young voting in 2012 and 2014.

The Reds finished last season with a 62-100 record, only the second time in franchise history they've lost at least 100 games. They have just two winning seasons and one playoff appearance since 2014.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto announced that he will undergo season-ending surgery Friday to repair a rotator cuff tear.

"I don't know how to explain it ... like what exactly happened, but it's been lingering for a while, and I've had a difficult time with it," Votto said.

He clarified that the injury originated in 2015 and that he's played through it. However, Votto noted that it has been particularly painful over the past three to four months.

The 16-year MLB veteran had 11 home runs, 41 RBI, a .205 batting average and a .689 OPS this season.

Votto, who turns 39 years old in September, has played his entire career with the Reds. He's a six-time All-Star who won National League MVP honors in 2010.

Votto last played Tuesday in an 11-4 loss to the Phillies.

The 46-70 Reds are having a lost season that sees them just one game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates for last in the NL Central. Votto had struggled of late with just two hits in his last 39 plate appearances over nine games.

He deserves a lot of credit for playing through the pain and contributing as much as he could, especially amid a tough campaign, but opting for the season-ending surgery in hopes of alleviating the problem is likely the best course while the Reds play out the string.

This year wasn't his best, but Votto has still been tremendous in Cincinnati. He's finished top-seven in the NL MVP voting six times and earned Gold Glove honors in 2011. He's sported a .926 OPS for his career and hit over .300 in nine seasons.

Without Votto and Mike Moustakas, who is on the 10-day injured list with a calf setback, the Reds can turn to Matt Reynolds or Kyle Farmer to play first. Reynolds played there Wednesday in a 1-0 win over the Phillies.

After leaving Thursday's Field of Dreams game against the Chicago Cubs with a leg injury, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India is set to make his way back to Cincy in an unconventional way.

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, India was airlifted to an Iowa City hospital Thursday night due to swelling in his leg. Because doctors are concerned about him flying with that amount of swelling, India is driving back to Cincinnati with team trainers rather than flying with the rest of the team.

India left the 4-2 loss to Chicago in the fourth inning after getting hit in the leg by a pitch from Cubs starter Drew Smyly.

Per Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds manager David Bell called India "day-to-day" and noted that he didn't suffer a fracture.

The Reds and Cubs have an off day on Friday before resuming their series at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Saturday, and India is expected to be present for the game.

India, 25, was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft and was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball.

He is in the midst of his second major league season and is coming off a 2021 campaign that saw him slash .269/.376/.459 with 21 home runs, 69 RBI, 98 runs and 12 stolen bases en route to being named National League Rookie of the Year.

India's production has dipped this season to the tune of .243/.308/.385 with seven homers, 24 RBI, 27 runs and two steals, although he has been limited to just 59 games due to a hamstring injury that required two separate IL stints.

Matt Reynolds and Donovan Solano have seen significant playing time this season both when India has been healthy and out, and they figure to play regularly until India returns to the lineup.

Reynolds, who has played all over the field this season, is hitting .255 with three homers and 20 RBI in 73 games. Meanwhile, Solano is hitting .304 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 40 games.

The Reds dealt several key players ahead of the trade deadline earlier this month, including starting pitchers Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, third baseman Brandon Drury and outfielders Tommy Pham and Tyler Naquin.

As a result, they are fairly short on depth, but the moves were needed to build up their farm system since they are one of the worst teams in MLB with a 44-67 record.

The Reds will be even more short-handed if India misses time, but the remainder of the 2022 season is more about seeing what they have for the future than winning games.

The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs will meet in Dyersville, Iowa, for the second edition of the Field of Dreams game on Thursday, and it's going to be a special day for at least one player.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday night, Red first baseman Joey Votto took the time to share his excitement about playing in the game:

MLB's Field of Dreams game is a tribute to the 1989 film Field of Dreams, which starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and Ray Liotta. It centers around Costner's character making the decision to create a baseball field of his cornfield after a strange voice tells him to.

The 2022 Field of Dreams game is just the second iteration of the event. Last year, the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees participated in the game, with Chicago defeating New York 9-8.

Votto has appeared in 85 games for the Reds this season and is slashing .215/.331/.389 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI. He'll be looking to add to his totals in what is sure to be a fun evening in Iowa on Thursday.

The Cincinnati Reds' infield depth continued to be tested Monday night, as both third baseman Mike Moustakas (left calf) and second baseman Jonathan India (right hamstring) exited the team’s contest against the New York Mets after the top of the fourth because of injuries.

Nick Senzel moved from center field to third base following the injuries, with Albert Almora Jr. entering the game to play center and Matt Reynolds taking over at second.

Those injuries come after infielder Kyle Farmer was scratched from the lineup with neck stiffness.

In the event Farmer is unavailable to play Monday, catcher Austin Romine would be the only position player available on the bench.

The 2021 season was an injury-plagued mess for Moustakas, who was limited to just 62 games. He missed nearly three months with a heel injury he suffered in May and then went back on the injured list in September with plantar fasciitis.

The three-time All-Star has not been able to find his former pop at the plate to this point in the season. He's hit .197/.287/.325 with six home runs and 21 runs batted in through 72 appearances on the season.

India, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, entered Monday’s game hitting .251/.312/.400 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 55 games.

The 25-year-old got off to a slow start, slashing .231/.290/.346 during the first half of the season. He had picked it up in recent weeks, though, hitting /.305/.369/.542 to this point in the second half.

India previously missed more than a month earlier this year because of a right hamstring injury.

Cincinnati will have to piece together lineups should Moustakas or India miss time. Along with Monday's injuries, the team recently traded away outfielders Tommy Pham and Tyler Naquin as well as infielder Brandon Drury.

After getting off to a 3-22 start this season, the Reds have gone 41-41 over their last 82 games, which elevated them to third place in the NL Central.

The San Diego Padres aren't done making moves just yet.

The Cincinnati Reds announced they traded infielder Brandon Drury to the San Diego Padres for shortstop prospect Victor Acosta ahead of Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline.

Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic and Robert Murray of FanSided initially reported details of the deal.

Acosta was the sixth-ranked prospect in the Padres' farm system on MLB.com ahead of this move. He is slashing .243/.346/.706 with two home runs, 11 RBI and five stolen bases in 111 minor league at-bats this season.

Yet the headline here is another move by the Padres.

First, they acquired four-time All-Star closer Josh Hader in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. That alone would have been a notable addition as San Diego attempts to close the gap with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West ahead of the playoffs.

However, it then stole headlines with a blockbuster Tuesday when they landed Juan Soto and Josh Bell in a trade with the Washington Nationals. It sent shortstop C.J. Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, outfielder Robert Hassell III, outfielder James Wood, pitcher Jarlin Susana and first baseman/DH Luke Voit to the Nationals.

Eric Hosmer was included in the initial trade, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported he rejected the deal with his no-trade clause. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Padres eventually traded Hosmer to the Boston Red Sox.

While Drury isn't as big of a name as Soto, Bell or Hader, he is in the middle of a career-best season.

He slashed .274/.335/.520 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 92 games as a bright spot for a struggling Reds team. The veteran has also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets but never hit more than the 16 home runs he launched in his first full season in 2016.

Drury is now in the middle of a playoff race and can play all across the infield for the Padres as they look to mix-and-match their now loaded lineup.

In the midst of another lost season, the Cincinnati Reds reportedly have a coveted trade piece that is drawing interest from several teams.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Reds third baseman Brandon Drury "is one of the most popular names in industry trade talks today," with the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves all checking on his availability.

Drury signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in March and wound up having a breakout year. He is far and away the team's best offensive player, ranking first across the board with a .272 batting average, 19 home runs, 58 RBI and 94 hits. The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans wrote that Drury's first-half performance warranted consideration for the All-Star Game.

Since making his major league debut in 2015, Drury has bounced between five different teams. He appears to have found a groove in Cincinnati, but he would be better-served if he joins a contender. Drury's versatility on the infield and his potency at the plate would significantly boost a team chasing a pennant.

The Reds are in fifth place in the NL Central with a 39-61 record entering Sunday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Cincinnati has already begun a roster teardown, trading two-time All-Star pitcher Luis Castillo to the Mariners and veteran outfielder Tyler Naquin to the New York Mets. The team is expected to continue making moves.

R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports reported Saturday that the Reds are expected to part ways with Drury prior to Tuesday's trade deadline, as well as pitcher Tyler Mahle. On the verge of missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, Cincinnati's best course is to acquire assets to build for the future.