The Reds have traded outfielder Stuart Fairchild to the Braves for cash considerations, according to announcements from both clubs. The Reds had designated Fairchild for assignment last week. Atlanta transferred right-hander Joe Jiménez, who is recovering from knee surgery and might miss the entire season, to the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move.
Fairchild, 29, is a speed-and-defense outfielder. He has appeared in 249 big league games over the past four big league seasons. In that time, he has a .224/.308/.389 batting line in 615 plate appearances. That production translates to a wRC+ of 88, indicating he’s been 12% below average at the plate overall.
He has also swiped 23 bags in 29 tries, getting double-digit steals in each of the past two seasons. He has 1,389 1/3 innings in the outfield, spending time at all three positions. In that time, he’s been credited with ten Defensive Runs Saved and nine Outs Above Average.
But he is out of options, meaning he needs to hold an active roster spot in order to stick on a 40-man roster. The Reds squeezed him off but Atlanta will find a spot for him. By moving Jiménez to the 60-day, they have made room for Fairchild on the 40-man but will have to make a corresponding active roster move whenever Fairchild reports to the team.
That could perhaps be Bryan De La Cruz getting optioned down to Triple-A. The club currently has Jurickson Profar, Michael Harris II and Jarred Kelenic getting the regular outfield playing time. De La Cruz and Eli White are on the bench but White is out of options, whereas De La Cruz is still optionable.
However the alignment shakes out for now, it’s likely to be temporary. Alex Verdugo was signed just over a week ago. He has agreed to be optioned to start the year so that he can effectively do a delayed spring training. Ronald Acuña Jr. is on the injured list, still recovering from last year’s ACL tear, but could be back with the club at some point in May.
As Verdugo and Acuña eventually join the active roster, guys like Fairchild, De La Cruz, White and perhaps even Kelenic could be squeezed out of playing time or bumped down the depth chart. For now, Fairchild gives Atlanta a nice fourth outfielder with a good glove and some speed. As mentioned, he is out of options but has less than three years of service time. That means he theoretically can be retained beyond this season if he carves at a comfortable role for himself. He’s also a righty bat with a .248/.346/.409 line and 107 wRC+ against lefties in his career, so perhaps he can carve out a platoon role with the lefty-swinging Kelenic.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
Kmart Blue Light Special Aisle 7..
Blockbuster be like:
Get your Netflix streaming disk
I always get this guy confused with Stuart Little.
comparable hitters
the fact (in 2022) that Fairchild had an almost .500 slugging with only 5 homers is crazy lol.
Only 97 ABs. Pace-wise, that’s 25-30 HR a year with another 25-30 doubles and 5+ triples.
ah, thank you. its just crazy to think about and see lol.
Surely not. Maybe De la Cruz
De La Cruz has minor league options left. Eli White does not. De La Cruz probably goes to Gwinnett to get abs.
He’ll be back once he gets a six pack.
one teams trash is another teams treasure… best of luck to Mr. Fairchild
Recycling. Baseball is going green.
@Major
Going green? bellinger already started that.
Tommy Flanagan enters the chat.
Marisnick gone.
Fairchild had half his career WAR last season, as his OPS+ continues trending down. Seems like a better reserve than most of the guys Atlanta has right now.
His Aunt Morgan is still quite the looker.
Hey Mom, I’ve been traded.
Well, sometimes life isn’t fair, child.
Just what ATL needed…another guy that can’t hit.
Fairchild mashes LHPs and plays good defense including CF. Just keep him away from RHPs.
I’m not sure 107+ OPS vs LHP is ‘mashing’ but it is better than Ozzie’s 96 vs RHP, for whatever that’s worth. Should be a good platoon with Kelenic anyway.
Runs like a deer, hits like a rock. If he learned to bunt he would be a very disruptive on the field, but he can’t hit a lick. At least now we don’t have to wait for the inevitable call up from AAA where he’s supposedly been working on his batting stance, swing, timing or pick some excuse why he couldn’t hit. Hopefully he’ll work out for Atlanta but don’t count on it.
Buffalo Bob will always take more cash rather than paying it.
Just like clockwork…..you complain about Fairchild when he was a Red, now complain about his departure.
TOBTTR complains about everything. Doesn’t understand without Castellini these guys may have been the Nashville Hound Dogs or the Portland Snowflakes. I think Bob and Nick are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.
Has a nice 2.3 bWAR over 519 combined Cinci AB’s with decent power and great speed. Decent walk rate too.
It’s kind of a head-scratcher that Cincy dumped Fairchild when they did. With Hays on the IL and Steer limited to DH, they’re now playing two infielders in the OF against LHPs.
The Reds seem to only draft shortstops and move them to other positions
Draft them and trade for them. The corner OFs in yesterday’s lineup were Gavin Lux (Dodgers) and Santiago Espinal (Jays).
@yeasties: Playing a bunch of SS’s at other positions works pretty well for the Padres. I wish the Braves had ONE decent ML SS.
My favorite trading player, Cash Considerations, the most traded player in MLB history
My sources are saying Profar is due for an extended absence
Good sources!
Depth for Jurickson Profar? Looks like there may be an extended absence.
Profar a cheater? Oof
I’ve always liked Fairchild and think he’s a serviceable big leaguer, but he just can’t hit well enough on a team that desperately needs some RH outfield options
In a corresponding move Jurickson Profar is headed to the non-optional IL with ringworm.
Profar just failed a banned substance test. 80 game suspension.
PED suspension
2 minutes ago, ESPN confirmed Profar gets 80 game PED suspension.
Maybe I’m not paying attention enough to other teams, but it seems Atlanta signs all these no name players I’ve never heard of. Profar I’ve heard of but De La Cruz and now Fairchild. Anybody looking for Adam Duvall to come back?
Reds fan here. I think Braves’ fans will like him as a backup/platoon OF. Good defensively. Hits decently well against lefties. Good clubhouse guy. And zero risk on your end.
I always love these “cash consideration” trades. Lmao. Are the Braves considering sending over a few 1964 JFK half dollars? Are the Reds considering asking for more?
So much to consider, IMO.
In all seriousness, roughly-speaking, how much are the Reds getting for a guy like Stu Fairchild? Braves sending over $250K? Less? More?
No telling. Teams don’t often release the details on amounts of cash consideration deals. Wish they would. Some of those deals for a dollar in years past made for amusing reading. Btw—thanks for your take on Fairchild. Braves fan here and I don’t know much about him, so it’s nice to hear a Reds fans perspective on him.
They just acquired a platoon bat with plus defense and speed for cash, reinforcing that MLB clubs still mismanage their fourth outfielder spots. If teams properly valued situational advantages and defensive impact, players like Fairchild wouldn’t be essentially free assets.