The Reds are pretty locked and loaded at the second base position at the Major League level with Brandon Phillips signed through 2017. Injuries or decline in play could always open up a spot for someone before that time frame though.
The Reds have some depth at the second base position throughout the farm system, but there really isn’t a stand out prospect at the position. Ryan Wright leads the way among the second base prospects. The former Louisville product split his time between the Dayton Dragons and Bakersfield Blaze. In Dayton he hit .285/.343/.424 with solid plate discipline and solid power output in 429 plate appearances before earning a promotion. In a short period of time in Bakersfield he showed off quite a bit more power, matching his home run total in Dayton in 25% of the time. However with the better power came poor plate discipline as he walked just twice while striking out 17 times in 102 trips to the plate. Overall, he had a solid season, but he will need to show better plate discipline moving forward than he did at the end of the year in Bakersfield if he wants to continue to move up the ladder and keep his prospect status. After Wright, there is a drop off among the guys in full season ball to a group of guys who seem to have shown things here and there, but haven’t quite had the resume that Wright had.
Devin Lohman probably is the next guy in line. He has had an up and down career, getting off to a very poor start before turning things on in the second half of 2011 as he split time between Billings and Bakersfield. He spent 2012 in Bakersfield where he hit an unspectacular .257/.353/.401 as he showed off solid power and good plate discipline while also swiping 34 bags (9 CS). Lohman has a solid glove and also spent part of his year at shortstop, though he is more of a second baseman. Brodie Greene had a similar year to Lohman’s 2012 when he was in Bakersfield in 2011, but he regressed significantly in 2012 as he hit just .244/.319/.329 for Pensacola. He showed off solid plate discipline, but saw his power all but disappear in 2012. If he can regain a bit of power then he could get back on the right track.
In rookie ball the Reds saw several guys show off something during the 2012 season. Brandon Dailey began the year in Dayton, but struggled in 102 plate appearances and found his way to Billings where he hit .308/.355/.528 as he showed off pretty good power, but he had just 9 walks compared to 48 strikeouts in just 175 plate appearances. Improvement in his plate discipline is a must for Dailey to continue to develop. Down in Arizona there were two guys worth talking about. Ty Washington saw limited action due to an injury cutting his season short, but a toolsy middle infielder hit .270/.351/.429 with 9 walks and 12 strikeouts to go with 6 steals (2 CS) in just 76 plate appearances. Hopefully he can put together a full and healthy season in 2013 to get a better read on what he can do. Avain Rachal was taken in the 22nd round out of high school in 2012 and hit .297/.364/.415 in 132 plate appearances for the Arizona Reds while showing off solid plate discipline with 12 walks and 24 strikeouts. He did post an .899 fielding percentage at second base though, so he does need to sure up his defense some.
Overall Thoughts
The Reds certainly has depth at the second base position in the minor leagues, but as noted in the beginning of the article, they are lacking that premium prospect at the position right now. A guy like Ty Washington with his athleticism may change that down the road, but there is still a long way to go for him. Ryan Wright seems like the most sure thing of the group, but he seems to have limited upside, has been a tad old for the leagues he has played in and has only had solid results. The position is probably a C+ because of the depth and some guys who were able to perform at least solidly throughout the system.
For other State of the Farm posts, check out the series here.
HROD?
I think he is in with the third baseman. That is where he played most last year.
Yes. He will be with the third baseman.
Doug, with the sucess the reds have had historically moving SS to 2nd maybe we should just call it state of the middle infielder. Lets see there was Pokey,Oester,BP to name a few. I don’t think it would shock me if BP went down for a extented amount of time Didi may be a candidate to slide in there or possibly move Cozart to 2nd and Didi to SS being his gloves plays a little better.
That’s why I don’t want to trade Didi. We could really need him. Sign
either Youkillis or Ludwick as a FA and don’t give up any players.
Alan, I think they will look into both options, Ludwick and Youk.
Looks like Parra or anybody else from the D-backs is unlikely with the move of Chris Young.
I have read that the D-backs could still move an outfielder. I think they will look to move Upton first but if they aren’t liking their offers I think Parra could still be had. I would love for the Reds to get him. No one would run on a hit to left with Parra or right with Bruce.
Yeah, I figure they could still move an outfielder, they are just going to need to get one back or grab one in free agency.
Guess I do not get the love affair here with Youklis.
He will be 34. Has never played more than 111 games at third base in a season (even when he was young). In 2013 he hit .235 with 108 Ks in 122 games with 19 HRs. His OBP is 100 points higher than his average but .336 isn’t great and his speed clogs the bases. He made $12,000,000 last year, so what kind of cut will he accept?
Except for batting average where Todd Frazier was 40 pts. better, they had practically the same numbers. OBP same, HRs same, RBI Frazier 6 better in 60 less plate appearances. 2012 he made major league minimum.
I’ll take Frazier at third, with Henry Rodriguez as his caddy as these guys will get better I think Youklis is on the way down.
I just don’t see Youklis as a positive upgrade, even if Ludwick can’t be signed. I would go elsewhere for a replacement.
Mk, I truly don’t know that much about Youkillis. I know he is fairly old and has had his share of injuries. This one could go either way with a lean toward down. But the same can be said of Ludwick. He had a comeback season after several pretty bad seasons. He seems to stay away from injuries. You are taking a big chance with either; but with high rewards if they still have something left. If you go younger, you are talking a lot of players and a lot more money. I really would like to hold onto Didi,Hamilton, Cingrani, Corcino and some of the younger top prospects. Our minor league system isn’t flush with talent(especially the upper levels)
and we have disposed of a lot of our top minor league talent in trades lately. For the money(and it would cost us no players in return), I would take a chance on Ludwick or Youkillis. I would
only go 2 years with maybe an option year for whichever one I sign.
Well, if we can normalize what Youk did in Chicago with a .300 BABIP, he would have been a .267/.372/.456 hitter. That is pretty much what he hit with Boston in 2011. The Reds could really use that OBP in their line up.
Obviously there is a price where it is worth it and there is one where it isn’t. But if you could get him for say, 2 years and 14M, I would go for it. Play him at third and play Frazier in left.
Doug, agree. Plus Youk playing half his games in GABP can’t hurt either. If Youk can give us Ludwick production and Frazier takes a step forward,add a healthy Joey and I like our middle of the order.
That is more than they paid Rolen the last 2 years. I’m sure at least part of that was set aside for raises.
Plus lets don’t forget what you give up in defense. Youklis range factor at third is 2.3, Frazier 4.1. Since the team strength is starting pitching, that creates a big liability.
Can’t cherry pick stats. The whole season needs to be considered with both Sox stats for a whole season.
Range factor tells us nothing. Two entirely different pitching staffs.
As for considering the whole season…. Youkilis with Boston in 2012 is unlike anything he has ever done in the past. Youkilis in Chicago, outside of the low BABIP, is pretty much what he has done in the past.
You have many good points about Youk, and I’m not sure if I like the idea of him on the Reds. But Youk’s ’12 gets an asterisk from a lot of people. He was horrific in Boston, but had a disaster of a manager with Valentine. Valentine threw him under the bus as soon as the season started. When he got traded to the White Sox, he was a solid player. People think that is his true talent.
But his age is a concern, and so is his defense at third. So he really needs to hit.
I don’t know where I stand on him, because I just don’t know if he has enough left in the tank. But he could be a great clean-up hitter for another year or two.
Not sure about Youk, but I do think we need a high OBP guy, especially to lead-off next season. I’ve heard of three possibilities that are rather intriguing:
1. Trade for David DeJesus; could probably be had for Heisey or LeCure.
2. Trade for Shin-Soo Choo; Villareal, Soto, and Hayes (salary dump).
3. Trade for Coco Crisp: I wouldn’t give up much if I was Walt.
I wouldn’t start any of the above in CF, unless Ludwick is re-signed also. Either way, I hold onto Stubbs for defense, never batting higher than the 8-hole, and feasting on LHPs.
It would be nice to have either DeJesus, Choo, or Crisp in the lead-off spot from day one, while allowing the team to ease Hamilton in to the big leagues.
Choo in left would be great. And I have seen his name in trade rumors. I don’t know what his contract is though.
I agree on Stubbs. Give him one more year at 7th or 8th.
Choo is in his last year of arbitration, so he’ll be a FA in 2014. I think he is expected to make about $7 mil. this season, which is about the same that Crisp is making next season. Crisp also has a club option of $7.5 mil. for 2014. DeJesus is quite a bit cheaper at $4.25 mil. next season with a $6.5 mil. option for 2014.
Unfortunately, Choo is represented by Boras, so I wouldn’t expect him to accept any contract extensions before he hits FA.
Given the contracts, I think DeJesus makes the most sense for this club. DeJesus and the re-signing of Ludwick could really round out the team for next season.
I’d move Heisey or Stubbs (keep one), and look for a pinch hitting LH bat with some thump to round out the outfield.
I agree with DeJesus. I’ve always liked him and I think he would fit well in left. His 2014 option would be affordable as well if desired. I also like Choo, but he is a 1-year player that will probably make closer to $8MM. Thus, we wouldn’t want to give up much for him. I’d also look at Denard Span, who would have two more years of team control. The Twins need pitching and I’d center a deal around Leake.
Put a fork in the Cardinals.
Thank you cards. The Reds’ series now has a partner.