Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are among the teams interested in free-agent pitcher Zack Wheeler, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Since debuting in 2013, Wheeler has spent his entire MLB career with the New York Mets.

The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2016 but has proved to be fairly durable in recent years. He has averaged 30 starts over the past two seasons, throwing a career-high 195.1 innings in 2019. 

Wheeler struggled early on this past season before missing nearly three weeks because of a right shoulder impingement in July. When he returned, he proved he was fully healthy by going 5-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break.

Overall in 2019, the 29-year-old went 11-8 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.259 WHIP, striking out a career-high 195 batters. That comes after he went 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA in 11 second-half starts in 2018.

Wheeler's performance the past two seasons has helped put to rest some of the concerns surrounding his health as free agency approached. As a result, he will be one of the top arms on the market this winter, joining the likes of 2019 American League Cy Young runner-up Gerrit Cole and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg.

Andy Martino of SNY previously reported the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox both also have interest in the ex-Met.

The Reds have long held interest in Wheeler. ESPN's Buster Olney reported prior to the 2015 trade deadline they were willing to deal then-two-time All-Star Jay Bruce for the pitcher. They wound up holding on to Bruce for one more year before ultimately trading him to the Mets for second baseman Dilson Herrera.

Cincinnati has made a number of moves to bolster its rotation over the past year. As a result, it enters the offseason with an expected rotation of 2019 All-Stars Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, 2018 All-Star Trevor Bauer and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (who went 9-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 2019).

The Reds are not expected to re-sign left-hander Alex Wood, who made just seven starts in an injury-plagued year.

Attracting a free-agent pitcher to Great American Ball Park is no easy task. However, Reds president Dick Williams told the Cincinnati Enquirer's Bobby Nightengale last month that the club will be active this offseason and expects its payroll to increase in 2020.

Cincinnati has not made the playoffs since 2013, and its 75 wins in 2019 were its most in the last five seasons.

The Cincinnati Reds struggled at the plate last season, finishing 12th in the National League batting average, on-base percentage and runs scored.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com, the franchise is looking into third baseman Nicholas Castellanos and outfielder Marcell Ozuna as possible free-agent options to help address those offensive woes.

Castellanos had 27 home runs, 73 RBI and a .289 batting average for the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs last season. He'll be entering his age-28 campaign in 2020.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Ozuna hit .241 with 29 home runs and 89 RBI for the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Reds should have strong competition for both Castellanos and Ozuna, according to Morosi:

"The Cardinals appear to have a better chance of retaining Ozuna than the Cubs do with Castellanos, whom they acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported the Reds, White Sox and Rangers all have shown interest in Ozuna, with the Braves another potential landing spot.

"In addition to that group, the Giants and D-backs have at least checked in with the representatives for Ozuna."

The Reds finished fourth in the NL Central last season with a 75-87 record. Their pitching staff was largely exceptional and doesn't need too much offseason work. Staff ace Luis Castillo struck out 226 batters en route to a 15-8 mark and a 3.40 ERA, and newcomer Sonny Gray paced the starters with a 2.87 ERA.

But the batting order lacks pop outside of third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who broke out for 49 home runs and 103 RBI to go along with a .930 OPS. Yasiel Puig, who was second on the team in home runs, was traded to the Cleveland Indians in July and is currently a free agent.

Jesse Winker (16 home runs, 38 RBI and .830 OPS) and Nick Senzel (12 home runs, 42 RBI, .742 OPS) offer hope for the future, as they're both in their mid-20s and are under team control until the mid-2020s. However, the Reds need more pieces in place to compete with some power-packed National League lineups such as the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves.

The Reds seemingly have the right manager in place, with first-year skipper David Bell having overseen an eight-win improvement from 2018. Cincinnati was a bit unlucky, too, as Baseball Reference lists its Pythagoeran win-loss at 80-82, five wins better than its actual mark. The Reds had outscored their opponents for the season until a late five-game losing streak.

The Reds will begin attempting to snap their six-year playoff drought on March 26, 2020, when they host the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals to open the season.

Cincinnati Reds super-utility man Michael Lorenzen made history with both his arm and his bat on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.

After he gave up a game-tying home run to Jay Bruce in the top of the seventh, Lorenzen—who pitched two innings—stayed in the game long enough to watch his team retake the lead, making him the pitcher of record. Then, he gave Cincinnati a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth with his first home run of the season:

"...I'd say he is due to take a nice, easy walk around the bases."

—The legendary, Marty Brennaman 🐐🔮#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/9qvGTLGhlA

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 5, 2019

He then remained in the game to play center field as closer Raisel Iglesias recorded the save.

According to Stats By Stats and Reds statistician Joel Luckhaupt, Lorenzen joins Babe Ruth (June 13, 1921) as the only players in MLB history to homer, play in the field and be the winning pitcher in the same game.

Lorenzen has now made 66 appearances on the mound, posting a 3.04 ERA in the process, and 18 appearances in the outfield this season. He also owns a .353 average and a 1.009 OPS with one home run, four RBI and three stolen bases in 19 plate appearances in 2019.

The former Cal State Fullerton center fielder now has seven career home runs. That puts him second only to San Francisco Giants star Madison Bumgarner (12) among pitchers since he entered the league in 2015, according to MLB Stats.

A month ago, virtually no one knew Aristides Aquino's name. He didn't top any prospect lists, and he hadn't made a mark in the big leagues since signing as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2011.

Now, after a scalding August, he's a key cog in the Cincinnati Reds offense and is more than filling the Yasiel Puig-shaped hole in their lineup.

Before we parse Aquino's meteoric ascent, let's gaze at those August numbers: 29 games, 115 plate appearances, 33 hits, 14 home runs, 33 RBI, 1.158 OPS.

His 14 round-trippers set the National League rookie record and tied the franchise record for homers in a calendar month, and the eight home runs he swatted in his first 12 games set the all-time big league mark.

Here he is clearing the fence three times Aug. 10 against the Chicago Cubs:

Surely the Reds were hoping for something when they called up the 25-year-old in the wake of the July 31 three-team trade that sent Puig to the Cleveland Indians. But they couldn't have been expecting that.

"Losing Yasiel and Scooter [Gennett] in the trades, we need guys to step up," Cincinnati skipper David Bell told reporters. "When he's not hitting a home run every night or two or three like he is, he's proven that if he stays with his approach and continues to be exactly who he is, he's good enough to play at this level and contribute in a big way to our team."

Aquino flashed power at Triple-A Louisville, as he hit 28 home runs and posted a .992 OPS in 78 games. But no one was prepared for this next-level raking—including opposing big league pitchers.

Speaking of which, this is the part where the league tries to adjust. There is swing-and-miss in Aquino's game, as evidenced by his 17.2 percent swinging strike rate (the league average is 11.1 percent).

That said, he's cut down on his strikeout rate as he's advanced through the Cincinnati system:

• 2017 (Double-A): 28.8 percent
• 2018 (Double-A): 25.2 percent
• 2019 (Triple-A): 25.1 percent
• 2019 (MLB): 23.3 percent

He ranks third in the game in the Statcast metric barrels per plate appearance percentage at 11.7 percent. (For comparison, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge are sixth and seventh at 10.9 percent.)

He doesn't match Puig's defensive prowess in right field, but he's adequate with the leather and has a howitzer arm.

Small-sample caveats apply, especially to Aquino's big league stats. He wouldn't be the first rookie to stumble after a torrid start.

Last season, Ryan O'Hearn hit 12 home runs with 30 RBI and a .950 OPS in 44 games with the Kansas City Royals as an out-of-nowhere 25-year-old. This season, he's hitting .185.

There's no rule that says Aquino must suffer the same fate. Clearly, he's made himself at home in the Reds clubhouse.

"He's got an infectious personality," Cincinnati catcher Tucker Barnhart told reporters. "He keeps everybody smiling and laughing. I'm really happy that, one, he's on our team and, two, he's had the start that he's had. It's been really cool to watch."

The Reds are all but out of the postseason picture at 64-74 entering play Tuesday. They're building a foundation for next year and beyond behind a pitching staff anchored by Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer and, perhaps, an offense built around Aquino.

Again, his career is young. It isn't time to place him next to Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan in the Cincinnati pantheon just yet. But Reds fans can dream big.

"First of all, the main thing is I'm not focused on my numbers," Aquino told reporters through translator Julio Morillo. "I don't think about what I've done."

Fair enough. As for the rest of us? We can look ahead and imagine what he might do next.

   

All statistics accurate as of Monday and courtesy of FanGraphs and MLB.com.

The Punisher struck again.  

During the first inning of Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds rookie Aristides Aquino took Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara deep to left field to continue rewriting MLB's record books:

100 plate appearances, 13 dingers. 💀#ThePunisher | #BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/Vqexm5hFmy

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 28, 2019

That marked the 25-year-old's 13th home run since being called up Aug. 1 following the Yasiel Puig trade. He had been mired in a four-game homerless drought and had just one dinger in his previous nine appearances.

Aquino has established modern Major League records for home runs in a player's first 12 career games (8), first 14 career games (9), first 16 career games (10), first 17 career games (11), first 22 career games (12) and now first 27 games (13).

— Reds Media Relations (@RedsPR) August 28, 2019

Aquino's latest blast made history in more than one way, per Fox Sports Ohio:

• Most home runs by a player in first 100 career MLB plate appearances
• Fewest games (26) to reach 13 career home runs
• Most home runs by a Reds rookie in a single month
• Tied for the most home runs by a National League rookie in a single month (Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, June 2017)

According to MLB Stats, Aquino is the first Cincinnati player with 13-plus home runs in a month since Greg Vaughn accomplished the feat in 1999.

Joey Votto's injury woes have cropped back up, as the Cincinnati Reds star was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a back injury. 

Votto missed an extended stretch last year for the first time since 2014. The 35-year-old was placed on the 10-day injury list on Aug. 17 last season with a right leg contusion. He originally suffered the injury after being hit by a pitch from then-Washington Nationals reliever Ryan Madson 13 days earlier. 

Votto returned on Aug. 30 and looked like the same hitter he was before going down. 

Votto's power was down last year with just 12 homers and a .419 slugging percentage, but the six-time All-Star led the National League with a .417 on-base percentage. He's once again getting on base at a decent clip in 2019, but the rest of his offensive production is down with a .262/.352/.410 slash line. 

The Reds could turn to Josh VanMeter at first base until Votto is able to return to the lineup. 

Who knew the Cincinnati Reds' decision to trade Yasiel Puig to the Cleveland Indians would open up a spot in the lineup for the greatest debut of power in major league history?

Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino drilled another home run during Monday's 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals, with this one coming off relief pitcher Tanner Rainey. According to Eddie Matz of ESPN.com, the slugger became the first player in league history to connect on eight long balls in his first 12 career games thanks to the blast.

This may or may not be a scheduled tweet. 💀#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/wu2Mg9ek01

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 13, 2019

"I think it's the timing," Aquino said. "It's the perfect timing, and God has a plan. I just want to go out there and do the best that I can do."

Matz noted Aquino is hitting .429 with eight home runs and 16 RBI in 11 contests since Cincinnati promoted him. He earned the National League Player of the Week on Monday in large part because of his efforts during a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs that saw him hit four home runs in four games.

Three of those long balls came in Saturday's commanding 10-1 win.

Cincinnati is in fourth place in the National League Central and 7.5 games back of the division-leading Cubs. While the postseason is a long shot, the Reds can at least take solace knowing they may have a future superstar on their hands.

Cincinnati Reds rookie outfielder Aristides Aquino etched his name on a growing list of players who have smacked three homers in a game this season as he went deep in his first three at-bats against the Chicago Cubs:

Aristides Aquino belts his fifth homer in his first ten games as a Red, a new franchise record ‼️#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/F484QTCQb9

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 10, 2019

Please don't report our tweets for spam... 💀#ThePunisher | #BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/FC464YEzfx

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 11, 2019

THIS. IS. REAL. LIFE. #BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/0xC4TVVqjK

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 11, 2019

The 25-year-old has hit seven homers through his first 10 games in the bigs, a feat that MLB Stats put in historical perspective:

Aristides Aquino is homering faster than we can tweet. 😅

He just hit his THIRD of the game - he has 7 HR through his 1st 10 games, tying Trevor Story for the most in the live-ball era. pic.twitter.com/UVYwVm6uFn

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 11, 2019

Aquino also mashed at the Triple-A level this season, amassing 28 dingers in just 78 games for the Triple-A Louisville Bats.

Earlier this season, MLB saw four consecutive days with a three-homer game. While that streak was bound to end, the long ball is more prominent than ever as teams are hitting a historically high 1.43 dingers per game, according to Baseball Reference.

The Reds hit five through four innings on Saturday, with Nick Senzel and Eugenio Suarez producing the two others. Aquino's third solo shot gave the Reds a 9-0 edge.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker learned that the Reds had traded teammate Yasiel Puig from a fan during Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

While standing in the outfield, Winker was conversing with fans, who informed him of the Puig deal. He asked if it was a one-for-one swap and was told that prospect Taylor Trammell was also involved:

This is just crazy to see.

Jesse Winker found out about Yasiel Puig being traded to the Indians from a fan yelling out at GABP during the game. pic.twitter.com/fC9eeoVClb

— Votto De La Cruz (@EvilJoeyVotto) July 31, 2019

The deal involved the Reds, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres, and the biggest piece included was starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, who went from Cleveland to Cincinnati.

Cleveland received Puig and minor league pitcher Scott Moss from the Reds, as well as outfielder Franmil Reyes, pitcher Logan Allen and minor league infielder Victor Nova from the Padres. San Diego came away with Trammell.

The Reds acquired Puig in an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the outfielder put up strong numbers during his time in Cincinnati, hitting .252 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI. In Bauer, the Reds landed a potential ace for their staff for the rest of this season and next, and perhaps beyond that if they manage to sign him to an extension.

With Puig out of the picture, Winker figures to spearhead the Reds outfield for the remainder of the campaign, as he is hitting .261 with 14 homers and 34 RBI.

The Cincinnati Reds traded outfielder Yasiel Puig to the Cleveland Indians in a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Puig, who finished his Reds career against the Pirates on the same evening, told reporters postgame that he'll miss his old teammates:

With trade reports swirling across the baseball world, Yasiel Puig reflects on what may have been his final night with the #Reds.#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/QJqeJqHiwh

— FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati (@FanDuelSN_CIN) July 31, 2019

"I'm going to miss all of my teammates here," Puig said per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "This part of the year has been amazing for me, being on this team with my teammates and the city.

"I'm leaving a lot of love. Now it's time to move forward and go to my new team and help my team get to the playoffs."

The 28-year-old Puig has 22 home runs and 61 RBI to go with a .252 batting average this season. He has also stolen 14 bases.

Puig became a fan favorite during his short four-month tenure in Cincinnati. As referenced in his postgame interview, he embraced the local community and helped children in need. Of note, the Blog Red Machine gave a shout-out to Puig for a pregame gesture recently:

This guy is fantastic for the Cincinnati community. Hopefully, the #Reds front office sees the benefits of Puig on and off the field. #SignPuig https://t.co/gyKpcZwf6j

— Blog Red Machine (@blogredmachine) July 27, 2019

The right-fielder also shook every reporter's hand following his closing press conference, per Brandon Saho of WLWT:

Just finished interviewing Yasiel Puig. He told me “I love my teammates” and “I loved Cincinnati.” His bats, glove and cleats were all packed up. Puig ended the interview by shaking every reporter’s hand and thanking us for working with him. Good dude. #Reds

— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) July 31, 2019

Puig is staying in-state for his next MLB stop, but he's making a bigger move up the standings. Cleveland is 62-44, good enough for second place in the American League Central and first in the Junior Circuit's wild-card standings.

The Tribe don't have much breathing room, however, with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics firmly in the wild-card race as well.

Puig will join his team in the midst of a big nine-game homestand against the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers. Cleveland hosts Houston on Wednesday and Thursday.