Nov. 1: The Reds have formally announced that Galvis’ option has indeed been picked up.
Oct. 31: The Reds will exercise their $5.5MM club option on Freddy Galvis for the 2020 season, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). The Reds had a $4.5MM decision to make on the veteran shortstop, as Galvis’ contract contained a $1MM buyout.
Galvis hit .260/.296/.438 with a career-best 23 homers over 589 plate appearances last season, coming over to Cincinnati in a midseason trade from the Blue Jays. He was one of many players to benefit from inflated power numbers in the homer-happy 2019 season, as his batting average, OBP, and even his slugging percentage weren’t too far removed from career norms. Playing mostly at shortstop in Toronto and then mostly as a second baseman with the Reds, Galvis posted decent defensive statistics at both positions, making him a flexible bench piece for next season as Cincinnati decides on its next step in the middle infield.
Jose Peraza and Derek Dietrich are also on hand as potential infield candidates, and Nick Senzel could also potentially factor back into the second base mix if the Reds opt to acquire an everyday center fielder rather than continue to deploying Senzel on the grass. Galvis’ $5.5MM is more than either Peraza ($3.6MM) or Dietrich ($3.1MM) are projected to earn in arbitration, making one or both players expendable as non-tender candidates. With the Reds firmly intent on a postseason berth next year, they could be aggressive in looking for an everyday shortstop AND center fielder, thus making Senzel the new second baseman and keeping Galvis in a utility infield role.
That rules out a Jose Iglesias reunion .
Unless we use Freddy at 2B or OF
idk I could see them reacquiring Iggy if he doesn’t get a respectable offer elsewhere. No one said he has to start..
Freddy’s a good teammate, and he should’ve won at least one Gold Glove while with the Phillies. The Reds made nice moves picking him up and exercising their club option.
I don’t see Peraza, Dietrich, or Iglesias back. Dietrich had shoulder surgery. Iglesias is more expensive than Galvis, and Peraza … He needs to play like 2018 is all I can say, Reds can’t leave him on the 25 man roster after this season’s performance.
Came over on a waiver claim actually, not a trade
A lot of “fake news” happens here.
One of the better waiver claims this past season. 23 homers is a decent year. I wonder where that ranks among SS.
He did very little of that offense for the reds tho
“I wonder where that ranks among SS.”
9th
Wow! This is a bigger pick up than I thought. Shame on the Jays to get nothing for him
He hit .234/.284/.411 (76 OPS+) for the Reds after they picked him up – that’s 24% less than the average MLB hitter. Hard to call him one of the better claims.
Yeah but to get him for nothing plus have a well needed option on his contract is big for the Reds.
If he hits .250 and clubs 20+ bombs next year I think the Reds/their fans would take that for the cash they’re paying him
Yeah, it was a waiver claim,,,,thanks to Stan and Laurel running the jays
Seems like an expensive bench player this early in the off season. Hope the budget is going WAY up.
The cost of a midlevel reliever…. 4.5$M – why not
Wish Freddy was still on the Jays. Great pick up by the Reds.
No Didi?
Good move for the Reds. Galvis still plays Gold Glove level defense and he is a good clubhouse guy.
I agree that this is a good move. I would like to keep iglesias as well bit it may not be worth extra dollars. Peraza can go, he has never impressed me. Dieterich was a real boost to the clubhouse last year and had a great start but fizzled out, he may have to go. Would love to get senzel in his natural infield. The team isnt far from being a contender but moves need to be made and some money spent. Dont deplete the farm either.
Nice bat for the lineup. Now for a new center fielder possible via trade. Add some bullpen arms.
Freddy, prob a bench player, iggy, Peraza and Dietrich prob gone unless signing on the cheap, still need a big bat @ cf and some pitching help, another starter and a reliever prob, we saw from the WS how much pitching can win, they need Grandal or Betts
I hope Gavis didn’t completely unpack his bags in Cincy, since he will be traded again come summer 2020.
good choice. stud defender with a sneaky-good bat
Dang. I was hoping for a Phillies reunion. He’d be a perfect super utility guy for this team.
my thoughts exactly
No brainer to pick it up but I still see them signing DiDi
All the talk bout Grandal I really don’t see them going hard for him
Stephenson is on his way up & their 2 catchers this year I feel didn’t do to bad. Money should be spent elsewhere
Yep…
The guy the Padres had to trade for to have even a .01% chance of him signing with them?
I don’t consider him a good bench piece at all. At best, a late inning defensive specialist. There’s no room for guys like that on championship caliber ball clubs in this day and age. Well, there’s room, but what’s the point? Why not have a guy that can get on base and field his position well? That seems like a lot of money for that type of player.
Dudes got great hair, and will hit 25 plus home runs. Rather have him then Dietrich. I’d rather have Iglesias than DiDi if the price is there. Iglesias should’ve won Gold Glove at SS this year.
now sign Grandal and that FA 3nd baseman M??? to play 2nd and we have added 50 HRs with a lot of pop. All saving some $$$ to upgrade RP.