9:38am: Reynolds will receive a $2MM base salary and can also earn $500K worth of incentives if he makes the team, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Like Haudricourt, Heyman notes that Reynolds is a "near lock" to make the team.
9:27am: The Brewers have officially signed Mark Reynolds to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, according to Brewers director of media relations Mike Vassallo (on Twitter). The two sides were said to be nearing a deal last night. Reynolds is represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel noted last night that while Reynolds was likely to sign a minor league deal, the Brewers had told him he would almost certainly make the club out of Spring Training and will be in the mix for at-bats at first base.
Reynolds, who is entering his age-30 season, was outstanding for the Indians in the first quarter of the 2013 season, as he slashed a robust .268/.354/.580 with 12 homers in 40 games (39 starts). From May 19 through Aug. 4, however, Reynolds slumped to just a .178/.274/.228 line with three homers in 59 games. That cold stretch led to his release in Cleveland. He eventually latched on with the Yankees and batted .236/.300/.455 in 120 PAs with the Bombers.
Reynolds offers the Brewers a potential everyday option at first base if he can rediscover some consistency at the plate, and he can also serve as a platoon partner for the lefty-swinging Juan Francisco at the very least. A career .233/.329/.464 hitter with 202 homers in 3947 PAs, Reynolds has long been an "all-or-nothing" type of hitter. He averaged 38 homers per season from 2009-11 with the Diamondbacks and Orioles but has also led his league in strikeouts on four separate occasions and still holds the single-season record for strikeouts by a hitter with 223.
What does Reynolds bring to the Brewers that Juan Francisco doesn’t?
The ability to be somewhat competent against left-handed pitching?
But are the Brewers really contenders? And is it worth stunting his growth vs lhp?
A minor league deal is not going to stunt his growth. If Francisco can handle starting against LHP I’m sure they will have no problem benching Reynolds
But doubt Reynolds wants to be in the minors. Surprised he saw them as his best opportunity.
It’s most likely his best opportunity to be an everyday player. He’d be lucky to find a seat on the bench for a contender.
Forget the speculation that Reynolds was signed to platoon. He was signed for first shot at starting 1B. Period. No other team looking at him offered him that.
Its actually the other way around. Francisco got benched late last year and has been less than impressive in winter ball. Reynolds has the inside track to play everyday. Book it.
The guy had a sub .500 OPS against LHP a year ago. I don’t know what kind of growth you’re gonna get but it isn’t good.
Brewers thinking is that they CAN contend not that they ARE contenders. Some things have to go right. Full seasons from Braun and Ramirez, more production at 1B, and a rotation that carries over it’s 2nd half performance from last year.
They took a low risk gamble on a guy who has had a season of 44 HR in the major leagues. It now gives them a pretty power laden lineup. Francisco was never the answer and will be lucky to make the team.
Someone who can hit righties. More experience, more proven potential. Platooning the two, who are both on minimal minor league contracts is absolutely no risk at all. Why not? We just signed a guy who is only a couple of years removed from hitting 44 homers to a minor league deal. Hell, he still hit over 20 last year.
Reynolds hits righties as well as he hits lefties and unlike Francisco, he’s had full seasons where he’s been productive enough to hold a starting job. The same can’t be said about Francisco. Not sure they will go with a platoon at all unless Francisco swings a very hot bat in Arizona.
what exactly does juan francisco bring?
The ability not to make 10 errors in 67 games at first base?
He will steal more bases than Francisco. He also offers 3B help if needed. 40 HR playing in the NL West could translate nicely to the Central (MIL and CN being the most friendly of confines for him).
I like Reynolds more than Francisco, but Reynolds isn’t measurably better defensively at 3B than Francisco, though he might be better at 1B than Francisco who’s as bad as anyone I’ve ever seen.
Reynolds has 202 lifetime homers, and has belted 30 or more 3 times. Brewers hoped that Francisco could do that but his late slump last year which led to more bench time convinced them that he’s likely not ever going to avoid slumps long enough to post those kinds of numbers.
Reasonable fit. But, more importantly, it keeps the Brewers’ streak alive of not signing a player to a Major League deal this offseason!
Funny how Mark Reynolds has officially become the current day Russell Branyan!
They are pretty close. Difference is Reynolds was more established earlier in his career. Branyan eventually would slump so badly he would get taken out of the lineup. He was 33 before getting 500 AB’s.
Absolutely… Though if I remember correctly, Branyan was pretty highly regarded but was blocked by Fryman at 3rd and some deep corner outfield depth (so much they traded away guys like Giles).
I’m surprised NYY didn’t offer him a low value major league deal. Reynolds is nothing special but when Brian Robert gets injured they are going wish they had someone other than Brendan Ryan and Jayson Nix to start at 2B/3B.
Even if they did, this is a chance to play a lot at a position he’s much better suited to play…
Reynolds’ defense at 3B causes him to provide less value at the position than Nix or Ryan would.
Not an obscene deal monetarily. He may hit 44 Hr’s yet again. And strike out the other 450 times he reaches bat, but hey.
Proof that chicks still dig the long ball.
It would be ironic if the Brewers sent him to AAA since he never played there. He was promoted straight from AA to the bigs by the Dbacks.
He’ll start in Milwaukee or get waived. No chance he ends up at AAA.
Not sure why the yankees didnt go after this guy harder. I understand he strikes out and doesnt provide aby obp but hes atleast better than eduardo nunez. I know defensively he is known to be pretty bad but he actually graded out okay from what I remember in his short stint with the yanks last season. I know it’s small sample size. Any possible way they move jeter to 3rd and just play Ryan as SS? Theres got to be something bigger than nunez or roberts at 3rd.
I like the signing. Platoon this year and you have Hunter Morris in the wings ready for 2015. Brewers don’t break the bank and not a long term signing.
So next year the brewers are going to be sitting nice to spend some money on some quality free agents if they choose too.
Morris is going to have to hold off both Sean Halton and Jason Rogers, first basemen by trade that will likely man corner OF spots at AAA this year. If one of the other two clearly has better year than Morris, they pass him up.
I like Mark Reynolds. Here’s to hoping he straightens things out. He absolutely mashed in Cleveland last year until something happened and he dropped off a cliff… with no more power. Not sure what was going on but when he is hot he absolutely crushes the ball… fun to watch him hit (when he is hitting).
Miller Park will be a launching pad for him. Basically we have 1B covered for $4M, and both guys can cover 3B when ARAM gets hurt. LOVE THIS!
Neither Reynolds or Francisco are guys you want long term at 3B. Both are butchers.
Won’t matter. Hunter Morris will get the job.
Not out of Spring Training, he won’t. He clearly needs a bit more time at AAA, and the organization knows it. He’ll get a shot, but Reynolds and Francisco are both virtual locks for the roster and starting time at 1B. Morris, however, could definitely be a mid-to-late-season callup if he rakes at AAA, which wouldn’t surprise me.
I don’t agree that Francisco is a virtual lock to make the roster. Not now. That’s not to say the alternative is Morris either. I’d say there’s at least a 50-50 chance somebody currently not in the system gets added later on for that roster spot. Francisco is going to need AB’s to stay even sharp by his standards. I think Reynolds was signed to play the bulk of the time at 1B.
I love this for Milwaukee. What I believe could happen is, he holds first base until Morris is ready to go, likely by July-August. Now, upon good power numbers, he may have some trade value which could appeal to a team in contention. While I doubt that they acquire a top prospect, they may be able to acquire a relief pitcher or something.
Really like the signing. GET TO KEEP THORNBURG. Reynolds and Ike are a horse a piece.
Segura, Gomez, Braun, Aramis, Lucroy, Reynolds, Khris Davis, Scooter, Pitcher
Gallardo, Lohse, Peralta, Estrada, ____________??? (Thornburg, Hiram Burgos, Fiers, Hellweg, Jimmy Nelson, Mark Rogers, Ariel Pena from Grienke trade)????
I would think Thornburg or Fiers……. with Burgos and Hellweg having an outside chance
Reynolds need starts to get his power going.