The Reds have agreed to a minor league contract with Stephen Piscotty, according to his transactions log at MLB.com. The veteran outfielder was released by the A’s last week. He’s headed to Triple-A Louisville.
Cincinnati is the third career organization for the 31-year-old Piscotty. A Cardinals draftee, he spent the first three seasons of his big league career in St. Louis. Piscotty was a well above-average hitter for the first couple years of that stretch, earning a long-term contract extension heading into the 2017 campaign. He had his first below-average season that year, though. After the season, the Cardinals dealt the Bay Area native to the A’s — a move partly motivated by a desire to allow Piscotty to be closer to home while his mother battled ALS.
During his first season in green and gold, Piscotty posted arguably the best season of his career. He hit a personal-high 27 home runs and put up a .267/.331/.491 showing across 605 plate appearances. At age 27, he looked to have gotten back on track offensively, but he’s seen a marked dip in performance over the past four years. Going back to the start of 2019, Piscotty owns a .229/.287/.378 line in just shy of 900 plate appearances. He’s hitting .190/.252/.341 with a 34.5% strikeout rate over 42 games this year.
Those struggles led the A’s to move on from Piscotty last week. Oakland will remain on the hook for the rest of this season’s $7.25MM salary, and they’ll also have to pay a $1MM buyout on a 2023 club option. Cincinnati will only owe Piscotty the prorated portion of the $700K league minimum (which would be subtracted from the A’s obligations) should Piscotty play his way back to Great American Ball Park.
There’s no financial downside for the Reds in adding some extra outfield depth, as they’ve been platooning in both corners of late. The lefty-hitting TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley have gotten the stronger side of that arrangement, while Aristides Aquino and Stuart Fairchild are on hand as righty options. Aquino is hitting only .176/.236/.235 in 55 plate appearances this month, so Piscotty could be an option to supplant him in relatively short order if he gets on track with Louisville.
Really zero value here. Could see a minor league deal next year. With hopes he has enough production that the reds can flip him ay deadline for prospects. Drury 2.0
Yep, I thought the same thing. They spun Drury and Naquin into gold, so it stands to reason they could do the same thing with Piscotty. Why not?
As long as he isn’t taking away ab from someone young in the org that they want to take a look at.
Reds did absolutely NOTHING to develop Naquin. he already had his skill set, he was just hurt all the time
Yeah, so?
Good luck Stephen.
Lol, competing with the A’s for tanking the season.
It’s possible that A’s players get bored. It’s hard to want to win every night when your ownership sabotages the team. At least with Monryball, they tried to compete and win. Now they are the real life version of the 1989 Indians in Major League minus Jobu…
It’s possible that A’s players get bored. It’s hard to want to win every night when your ownership sabotages the team. At least with Monryball, they tried to compete and win. Now they are the real life version of the 1989 Indians in Major League minus Serrano and Jobu…
If he makes it to the majors this year, do you suppose he mashes against the Redbirds-his old team?
Murphy’s Law says, yes he will.
@anthonyfranco no news on Reds Ashcroft going on IL or Fairchild getting called up from AAA ????
Great place for him to land. He can hopefully rebuild his career without any undue pressure. Good luck Steven from a Cards fan.
Seen him in person several times in Oakland with the small number of fans at the game he is not a fan favorite. Doesn’t intact with the fans etc comes across very very cocky in person.
This signing has “Nick Senzel is forever plagued with injury but we didn’t trade him when we had the chance” written all over it.
Had to laugh when I read that. They missed their sweet spot with Senzel many moons ago. Now he’s your baby deal with, and a fussy baby he is.
Senzel sucks the kid is always hurt , can’t hit anther billy Hamilton speed but hit
A hot month could work wonders for Piscotty. Great American Ballpark is a much better hitters park than whatever they are calling the A’s stadium this week
Every night they call it nearly empty = (
Aside from Senzel and perhaps Fraley, OF in Cincy is for grabs, he may have a shot if able to regain hitting.
Yeah, the bar is pretty low. If you can’t clear that hurtle, maybe you should consider the alternative career enhancement program
The Reds also have Albert Almora (currently on IL) controlled through next season.