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Kyle Holder

Rockies, Tim Lopes Agree To Minor League Deal

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The Rockies have a minor league deal in place with utility player Tim Lopes, according to the club’s transactions log at MLB.com. The transactions log also indicates that infielder Kyle Holder has been signed to a minors deal as well.

Lopes, 27, has seen MLB action in each of the past three seasons, getting into 94 games in total. 87 of those games came with the Mariners over 2019 and 2020, as Lopes spent time at second base, third base and both corner outfield spots. In that time, he hit .252/.315/.362 for a wRC+ of 89.

He was designated for assignment before the 2021 campaign and claimed by the Brewers. He started the season on the 60-day IL and missed the first couple months of the season, then spent the rest bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues. In the end, he only got into seven MLB games. In 93 Triple-A games, he hit .226/.305/.401. He was designated for assignment in September and elected free agency after the season.

Holder, also 27, has yet to make his major league debut. He was selected by the Phillies in last year’s Rule 5 Draft and traded to the Reds, but was returned to the Yankees at the end of spring training. He spent 2021 in Triple-A for the Yankees, playing 78 games and hitting .216/.295/.276. Despite that tepid offensive production, Holder has been long-heralded for his glove and hit much better in Double-A in 2019.

The Rockies likely have three infield spots spoken for by C.J. Cron, Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers. The last spot could be claimed by Garrett Hampson, but he spent more time in the outfield than the infield in 2021. Colton Welker and Alan Trejo are also on the 40-man and got some playing time in 2021, but there’s certainly a path for a depth player to force their way into the mix in 2022.

Reds Return Rule 5 Selection Kyle Holder To Yankees

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The Reds have returned Rule 5 Draft pick Kyle Holder to the Yankees, according to announcements from both teams. The Yankees subsequently assigned the infielder to their alternate training site.

It was actually the Phillies who used a Rule 5 selection on Holder last December, but they wound up trading him to the Reds for cash considerations in late January. The 26-year-old went on to total 32 at-bats in spring training with the Reds, but despite a solid on-base percentage (.350), he hit for little average (.219) or power (.250 slugging percentage).

Originally a first-round pick of the Yankees, who took him 30th overall in the 2015 amateur draft, Holder hasn’t climbed above the Double-A level yet. He did hit well there in 2019, though, as he slashed .265/.336/.405 with nine home runs, seven stolen bases and a 13.8 percent strikeout rate in 472 plate appearances. But Holder’s at his best in the field, where he has experience at both middle infield spots and third base. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen wrote after the Rule 5 Draft that Holder “can absolutely pick it at shortstop,” adding he could turn into a defense-first utility player in the majors.

Reds Acquire Kyle Holder

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The Reds are acquiring shortstop Kyle Holder in a trade with the Phillies, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (Twitter link).  Both teams have officially announced the trade, with cash considerations heading to the Phillies in return.  The move will free up a space on Philadelphia’s 40-man roster, so the Phils’ signing of Didi Gregorius could soon be officially announced.

The Yankees selected Holder with the 30th overall pick of the 2015 draft, and he proceeded to hit .264/.317/.350 over 1744 PA in New York’s farm system.  Holder then moved to the Phillies as a selection in December’s Rule 5 Draft, and as per Rule 5 stipulations, Holder will now have to remain on Cincinnati’s active roster for the entire season, or else the Reds will have to offer him back to the Yankees.

With Gregorius back in the fold, Holder was an expendable part in Philadelphia, but he could potentially play a larger role for the Reds.  Given Cincinnati’s lack of shortstop depth, in fact, Holder might even be in line for some action in the starting lineup, unless the Reds add a more established infielder between now and Opening Day.  To that end, MLB.com’s Jon Heyman tweets that the Reds are still hoping to acquire Amed Rosario from the Indians, after reports linked Cincinnati to Rosario earlier this week.

While Holder hasn’t hit much in the minors and he has yet to play even Triple-A ball, he is a well-regarded defender whose glove may already be big league-caliber.  Holder has played mostly shortstop in the minors but has also seen time at second and third base, so he could serve as a valuable utility asset on the Reds’ bench.

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