So, the Cincinnati Reds have been hit pretty hard with injuries lately. With three outfielders down, they decided to shake things up a bit and look beyond their current roster. Late Sunday night, they made a move to bring in some outside help by acquiring veteran outfielder Austin Slater from the San Francisco Giants. In return, they sent left-handed reliever Alex Young to the Giants.
Austin Slater, who's 31, has had a pretty solid career as a part-time player, although this season hasn't been his best. He's batting just .200 with one home run and a .574 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. But let’s not forget his past performance. Over the previous four seasons, Slater hit .259 with 29 home runs and a .773 OPS across 374 games. Not too shabby, right? He's also versatile, having played all three outfield spots.
However, this year has been a bit rough for Slater. He suffered a concussion back in May while making a heroic attempt to catch a ball, crashing into the wall against the Reds. This injury kept him out of the game for a good chunk of the following month. Since his return, he's managed to go 13-for-51 (.255) with one home run and eight walks over 18 games. So, there’s hope he can bounce back.
Let's talk about the Reds’ All-Star Game selection for a moment. Elly De La Cruz is making waves as the youngest All-Star for the Reds since Johnny Bench. How cool is that? De La Cruz is thrilled about the nod, saying, "It feels great, but I’m also grateful." It’s always exciting to see young talent get recognized.
Back to the trade – it’s a pretty interesting deal. The Reds are including cash to cover the remaining $1.75 million on Slater’s contract. This move came just one day after they placed Nick Martini, a platoon lefty-hitting outfielder, on the injured list due to a sprained thumb he suffered on Saturday. Manager David Bell mentioned that Martini’s time on the IL might be longer than they’d like.
And it doesn’t stop there. The Reds are also missing their starting center fielder, TJ Friedl, who’s out with a hamstring injury. He's expected back in a week or two. Plus, outfielder Stuart Fairchild might be joining the IL as well, thanks to a back issue that popped up late Saturday. Talk about bad luck, huh?
Alex Young’s journey is quite a tale too. He was a key player in the Reds' bullpen success last season, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.86 ERA in 53 2/3 innings. This year, he started on the IL because of a lower back injury and only pitched two scoreless innings upon his return before being sent to Triple-A Louisville. In Louisville, Young has been impressive, boasting a 2-0 record with a 1.19 ERA in 23 appearances over the past five weeks.
Now, Young is headed back to San Francisco, a place he knows well. He spent the final two months of the 2022 season there after the Giants picked him up from the Guardians. He’s earning $1.16 million this year and is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons. So, there’s still plenty of potential in his career.
On the flip side, Slater is set to become a free agent after this season. It’s a bit of a gamble for the Reds, but with their current outfield situation, it’s a move that makes sense. They need the depth, and Slater, despite his struggles this year, has the track record to provide some solid contributions.
Injuries are always a tough break in baseball, but it’s moves like these that keep the game interesting. Who knows? Maybe Slater will find his groove again with the Reds, and Young might continue to shine back in San Francisco. Baseball, as always, is full of surprises.
So, stay tuned! This season is far from over, and with the trade deadline looming, who knows what other exciting moves might be on the horizon? Keep your eyes peeled and your popcorn ready – it’s going to be a thrilling ride!
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