The Reds have just a few notable strikes on faucet forward of Opening Day, as reported by Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Regardless of earlier studies that infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer will begin the season on the injured listing as a consequence of a proper shoulder harm, he really will make the Opening Day roster however would be the designated hitter solely. Nevertheless, outfielder Austin Hays will go on the 10-day injured listing as a consequence of a calf harm. Moreover, outfielder Stuart Fairchild can be designated for task tomorrow.
At this level, the small print on Hays aren’t clear. He was within the lineup for the membership on Sunday, stepping to the plate thrice. It hasn’t been publicly reported how he sustained his harm or how extreme it’s. Opening Day IL stints could be backdated by three days, so it’s attainable he might rejoin the membership as quickly as one week into the season if it’s minor.
As for Steer, his proper shoulder has been bothering him going again to final 12 months. Right here in camp, he’s been in a position to swing a bat with out ache however the shoulder bugs him when he throws. Supervisor Terry Francona informed members of the media just a few days in the past that Steer would begin the season on the IL but it surely appears the membership has modified that plan just lately.
It’s comprehensible that they don’t wish to lose his bat. He hit .271/.356/.464 for a 117 wRC+ in 2023. His line dropped to .225/.319/.402 final 12 months however that appears to have been at the least partially unhealthy luck, together with his batting common on balls in play dropping from .318 to .260 in these respective seasons. Having him within the DH spot will give the membership a bit much less flexibility however ideally some further thump.
As for Fairchild, he has largely been serving as a glove-first depth outfielder for the Reds recently. He exhausted his ultimate choice 12 months in 2023 however then managed to stay on the roster final 12 months because the membership suffered via quite a lot of accidents.
His glovework has been robust however he has a profession batting line of .224/.308/.389, which interprets to an 88 wRC+. In camp this 12 months, his numbers have been far worse, as he slashed .132/.233/.184 in 45 plate appearances. That efficiency appears to have sealed his destiny. The Reds might have saved Fairchild and optioned guys like Jacob Hurtubise and Blake Dunn to the minors, however will open the season with these two and bump Fairchild off the roster.
As soon as he’s formally DFA’d, he’ll have at most every week to seek out out his destiny, whether or not that’s a commerce or some future on the waiver wire. Regardless of the poor offense, he does have ten Defensive Runs Saved and 9 Outs Above Common in his 1,389 1/3 innings. He’s additionally stolen 23 bases over the previous two years. Maybe another membership can be eager about grabbing him as a fourth outfielder. If that involves cross, he could be managed for 4 seasons since his service time is between two and three years in the mean time.
With out Steer, Hays or Fairchild, the outfield could be in flux to start out the season. TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley needs to be regulars in two spots. Gavin Lux may play a good quantity of left discipline with Matt McLain at second and Jeimer Candelario at third. Candelario may play first but it surely appears as if Christian Encarnacion-Strand would be the common there. Dunn and Hurtubise might additionally issue into the combo alongside Lux.
