The Reds announced that outfielder Albert Almora Jr. has been designated for assignment. The move opens an active roster spot for infielder Matt Reynolds, who is back from the 10-day injured list.
Almora signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati in Spring Training. He made the big league roster in late May and has spent the past few months in the majors as a depth outfielder. Almora has gotten into 64 games and tallied 235 plate appearances, by far his largest workload since 2019. He’s made plenty of contact and played excellent defense, but he hasn’t drawn many walks or hit for much power. He carries a .223/.282/.349 line with five homers and three stolen bases.
A former sixth overall pick of the Cubs, Almora was a regular earlier in his career on the strength of his glove. After a trio of roughly league average seasons at the dish to begin his career, the right-hander’s production has tailed off. Since the start of 2019, he carries a .219/.265/.344 line between the Cubs, Mets and Reds. He’s settled into a fourth/fifth outfield role as a result.
The Reds could’ve controlled Almora for another season via arbitration, but they were evidently prepared to non-tender him after this season. As they play out the remainder of a non-competitive year, they’ll keep Stuart Fairchild on hand as the fourth outfielder behind TJ Friedl, Nick Senzel and Aristides Aquino.
Cincinnati will place Almora on outright or release waivers within the next couple days. There’s not much of a distinction in his case, as the 28-year-old has more than five years of big league service time. That gives him the right to refuse a minor league assignment in favor of free agency while retaining his salary if he clears waivers. If he goes unclaimed, it’s likely Almora will return to the open market.
Hey, hey, hey. No-bat Albert.
Man, I truly thought he would have been a decent hitting OF’er but after that incident he was never the same.
Also I didn’t even know he was still playing but then again it was the Reds, so he wasn’t on a team that would win.
He should head to Japan and earn a few dollars.
“That incident”
What incident?
The foul ball that hit a young fan
You’re exactly right. Albert was a .280 career hitter before the foul ball incident. That messed with his head as it would with most, and he’s never looked the same at the plate. An overseas stint would do wonders for him I think.
Cubs ruined him
Give him 500 at bats
Leave him alone and he delivers
Big Fan
It’s not in the numbers-you see it w your eyes on some players – he’s one – he’s a winner
Who else in Chicago is demanding them to give almora full time??
Just OJ and his Bronco
How did the Cubs ruin him? He got 300-400 bats in 2017-2019 and was great, batting near .300 in ’17. It was the foul ball in 2019 that did him in. He went from a .289 hitter to a .215 hitter after that at bat. Understandable that it messed him up, that kid was badly injured. I’m a huge fan of his and was glad he signed on to another team.
Yep and he was in contention for the batting title for a while with Scooter Gennet until Yelich walked away with it while also stealing the MVP from Javy.
Albert never walked but he always made contact and went to RF. He just couldn’t make contact after that incident she his defense suffered that year too.
At least he owns the most intelligent tag from 1st base of all time.
Anthony, you forgot Fraley.
Hey Anthony, you forgot Fraley
The Reds should be playing Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl every day. Aquino shouldn’t even be on the team. He hasn’t done anything at the plate since he debuted and hit all those HRs. Nick Senzel and Stuart Fairchild should get the rest of the playing time.
As a Reds fan at this point if I had to choose between the two, I’d rather see Aquino than Senzel. Senzel bad defense, dumb base running and no power.
Are you crazy? Look at what Aquino has done over the last couple of weeks. What makes him a liability? His arm is good enough reason to keep him. How many runs has he saved? You need to rethink your comments.
Aquino probably isn’t a long term piece but for now he’s not blocking anyone else, occasionally runs into a few balls at the plate and is the best defensive corner OF they have. He’ll be arb eligible so they’ll probably tender him a lowball offer and go from there.
Completely agree on Fraley even if playing Aquino, Senzel also I am over..
But I do feel Fraley is our best all around outfielder.
Jjj
Hello
Almora fits the mold for a Giants pick up
Look out
Not that it would be anything to get excited about – its just what I would expect from the G’s. The only club with turnstiles at the gate from the player parking lot.
‘Field, no hit in this line….hit, no glove in this line….’
Agreed. He could spend a long weekend on the Giants roster, and then be Farhan Zaidi’s 75th DFA of the 2022 season.
Another player the scouts over-rated when he came out of hs
He would be a good pickup for Cleveland.
Looky here.
He needs a shot.
He can ball.
I’m just saying
Totally farcical call
Still produced more with Cincy this season than he did with Cubs & Mets combined the last two seasons prior.
I guess Almora would be a better fit as a bench player for a contending team, great defensive and base running skills. His bat could be more productive when protected in the lineup.
I enjoyed watching his defense. Very fundamentally sound with good instincts.
I agree. A better center fielder than Senzel ever was. But then he is an infielder trying to fit out there. Not sure Senzel’s offense is good enough to keep him in the lineup though either with what we’ve seen over the years. It seems as if they are still trying to justify where they drafted him. I say that because center field has turned into an offensive position from the defense up the middle model of old.
Of course Billy Hamilton was the man…on defense anyway. Hard for Senzel to look good in comparison.