The Rays and Reds have worked out the final details of a pair of offseason trades between the two clubs, as per multiple reporters (including MLB.com’s Juan Toribio). Back in November, the two clubs engaged in two trades, one that sent right-hander Jose De Leon to Cincinnati and (a week later) another that sent first baseman/outfielder Brian O’Grady to Tampa Bay. Both trades saw the players exchanged for either cash considerations or a player to be named later, and today’s news confirms that the two teams have agreed to accept money to complete the transactions.
Cincinnati optioned De Leon to the minors two weeks ago, after the righty posted a 6.75 ERA over 2 2/3 Spring Training innings. When and if the season gets underway, the 27-year-old De Leon will continue to work to get back to the form that made him a highly-touted top-40 prospect prior to the 2016 and 2017 seasons. De Leon’s progress was halted, however, by Tommy John surgery in March 2018. He returned to throw 56 minor league and four Major League innings in 2019.
O’Grady was also optioned to Triple-A just earlier today, which was expected given that the Rays already have a number of left-handed hitting first base options. O’Grady’s ability to handle all three outfield positions could end up being his clearer path to playing time in Tampa Bay, as the Rays are forever looking for players with defensive versatility. An eighth-round pick for the Reds in the 2014 draft, O’Grady made his MLB debut in 2019, making 48 plate appearances (and hitting .190/.292/.429) over 28 games. The 27-year-old O’Grady has a .252/.354/.453 slash line over 2276 career PA in the minor leagues.
I thought it was odd the Rays would give up on De Leon so quickly… I mean clearly he has a ways to go to work back to the player/prospect he was before TJ. But the prospect he was before TJ was an incredibly compelling one — if he can recapture the form he had prior to surgery I definitely think he could be a steal for the Reds.
His velocity must not be back. Tampa seems to be big on that.
Tampa knows pitching it must go deeper than velocity
He never developed a 3rd pitch….he’s stuck in the pen prolly forever, and Tb has no room there or on the 40 for that matter for a Rp only
Or he had this little problem staying healthy. It’s hard to throw pitch #1 and #2 from the IR.
Who’s the best “o’” player in mlb history?
Troy O’Leary?
Paul O’Neill?
Paulie for sure!
Mel Ott
Sorry, didn’t see the Irish style prior to my post.
Mel O’tt
Pete O’Brien? The former Rangers 1B? My dad loved him and always took him in his old school pen and paper 5×5 league. Never did squat.
David Ortiz?
I’m not calling him a liar but he wasn’t stupid enough to promise two. – How the heck did you get in here anyway?
are you the guy who put us in the Ramada in Milwaukee ?
I still remember when De Leon was one of our top prospects and was suppose to be a stud. I’m pretty sure I was disappointed when we traded him because I knew Forsythe was nothing special and wasn’t going to put up the same numbers he did the season prior.
The Q was always would he develop a 3rd pitch?-
He didn’t
Except that’s not exactly the case, and injuries started to become more prevalent his stock fell. His ch somewhat surpassed his SL. So 3rd pitch was pretty consistent. It was more about his ability to stay on the field and TBs excessive P depth.
I don’t know what I would do with that but I’m gonna puke
It’s after the 20th. What did the Reds do with Dietrich? They had to make a decision by that date.
Probably. Sod. Doubt anything new happens with vladdy mvp