What the Yankees Could Use from the Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds finished the 2016 season tied with San Diego Padres for the second-worst record in the Majors at 68-94. Though this club is still a few years away from crawling out of the NL Central cellar, they do have a part or two that could interest a team like the Yankees.

Looking at the Reds’ depth chart, it’s hard to believe that a club that still has Joey Votto as its first baseman is this bad. Votto put up another year’s worth of ridiculous numbers in 2016, batting .326 with 26 HR, 97 RBI and a .459 OBP. One would think that these stats would increase significantly if he were to don Yankees pinstripes, but before the angry villagers attack me with their pitchforks because we have Greg Bird, I’ll admit, taking on Votto’s remaining 10-year, $225MM contract that runs through 2023 would be absurd.

Besides, with a full-no trade clause in effect, I think the only way Votto would waive the clause is if the Reds were to work out a deal to send him home to Canada. Depending on what the Blue Jays do about re-signing Edwin Encarnacion and/or Jose Bautista, don’t be surprised to see a transaction between the two clubs could come to fruition this winter.

Trading for a Red

As far as the Yankees are concerned, sticking with their low cost–potential based acquisitions from the past few seasons, one name to ponder that is locked up long term and makes absolute peanuts is Anthony DeSclafani.

After missing the first two months of the 2016 season due to a right oblique injury, 26-year-old DeSclafani was a consistent quality start generator, compiling a 9-5 record, 3.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 105/30 K/BB ratio.

While DeSclafani’s fastball regularly touches the mid-90s, it was the slider that he relied upon getting the majority of hitters out from both sides of the plate in ’16. Having thrown it 575 times (only 28 times less than the fastball), opposing hitters only managed a .199 BA/.262 SLG% against the 88mph darter. The pitch also commands a 15.6% strikeout rate–not too shabby.

The beauty about DeSclafani’s five-pitch repertoire is that he lives predominately down in the zone, resulting in a 41.9 ground ball percentage this past season. Combine that with his 7.63 K/9 and 2.19 BB/9, and it’s easy to see why his “stuff” could translate nicely to the friendly hitting confines of Yankee Stadium.

If you’re reading this and asking yourself ‘then why would the Reds trade their No. 1 pitcher away?’–I’ll explain.

We already know this is a dreadful team with the 12th ranked Minor League system according to MILB.com. They need assets. Also, DeSclafani’s name was mentioned last winter when the Reds were talking to clubs about a package centered around Jay Bruce (notably the Rangers and Dodgers).

Some scouts feel DeSclafani is more of a back-end of the rotation type starter who may have prematurely reached his ceiling (I vehemently disagree), so the Reds could be inclined to cash in on him now. Those within baseball circles will point to the fact that during the second half of the ’16 season, DeSclafani’s ERA shot up to 3.72 while allowing 13 long balls in 87 innings.

This is in comparison to his solid–yet shortened first half, where his ERA was a stellar 2.23 while allowing only three home runs in 36.1 innings. Oddly enough, opponents hit better during this period (.275/.340/.410) than in the latter months (.245/.295/.316).

The best part about potentially acquiring DeSclafani is that he’s not arbitration eligible until 2018, so until then he’ll continue to earn a little more than half a million dollars, while not hitting free agency till 2021.

Also, he shouldn’t cost the Yankees much in the way of prospects. I’m thinking two lower level arms, Juan De Paula or Jio Orozco, whom the Yankees acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Ben Gamel swap–one of the half-dozen outfielders blocked by the incumbents (perhaps Mason Williams or Dustin Fowler) and a utility guy like Dustin Ackley. You’re really not giving up a whole lot for a pitcher that would solidify the No. 3 spot in Yankees’ rotation.

Next: What Could the White Sox Offer the Yankees?

Signing a Former Red

Nope, I don’t want any part of Alfredo Simon or Ross Ohlendorf, but thanks.