Free Agent Player Profile: Mark Reynolds

Back in 2013, the Cleveland Indians released Mark Reynolds in the middle of the season. The Yankees, in need of a first baseman and third baseman (Reynolds can play both) signed him to a deal for the remainder of the campaign. Reynolds would play 36 games in pinstripes, hit 6 home runs, with 19 RBI while posting a .236 batting average. In the off-season the Yankees had hopes of resigning the 31-year-old, but he instead inked a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2014 he batted just .196 with 22 home runs and 45 RBI in 130 games. Now, the Yankees may be in need of his services again. Could a move back to the Bronx be his future?

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As I said, Reynolds can play both third base and first base which is something the Yankees could use to backup Mark Teixeira at fist base and fill in part-time at third base with Alex Rodriguez and Martin Prado also seeing time there. You know what you’re going to get from Reynolds. Big power, low batting average, and a big time strikeout total (He has 1,398 total strikeouts in his 8-year career). But his powerful swing is built for Yankee Stadium and the other parks in the American League Eastern division. If you’ll remember, he hit a home run that soared over the Green Monster at Fenway Park in his first at-bat as a Yankee.

The Yankees would much rather resign Chase Headley, who can also play first and third base but is a much better all around hitter. But, if the bidding for Headley drives his price tag up too high, the Yankees will be forced to pass and move on. Reynolds would be a low cost option compared to Headley and would be a nice fit to the Yankees’ bench. But Headley is an everyday starter and a Gold Glove defender. Reynolds, on the other hand, would be a platoon player off the bench and his defense is suspect. Reynolds serves his purpose as a solid right-handed power bat off the bench. A lower cost option like Reynolds makes sense for the Bombers who will be trying to cut their spending this off-season.

Reynolds definitely isn’t as good as Headley, but he is serviceable and would be a very nice tool coming off the Yankees’ bench.  While signing Headley is still their first choice, Reynolds would be a solid backup option. He’ll garner a low contract which makes signing Reynolds a low risk-high reward deal. Those are always nice contracts. Headley is their first choice but if he goes elsewhere, Mark Reynolds would be a pretty nice alternative.