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#Reds in agreement with CF Shogo Akiyama. @JonHeyman 1st. Hear it is going to be a 3-yr contract.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 30, 2019
Shogo Akiyama is close to signing a 3-year deal with the #Reds, source confirms. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 30, 2019
Bidding for Shogo Akiyama has reached 20M plus for 3 years. Reds appear in front and working hard.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 30, 2019
Re: Akiyama … source tells me that there is not an agreement yet with the #reds but they remain very much in the mix. And also heard the bidding to sign Akiyama is higher than three years and $15 million by a “decent margin.”
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) December 30, 2019
From the Twitterverse (from Gingersaurus Rex), no confirmation yet:
【速報】
レッズがFAの秋山翔吾（OF/31歳）と3年1500万ドル以上で契約合意。2019年成績
143試合（678打席）
打率.303
20本塁打
出塁率.392
OPS.864 https://t.co/9DccS95O2w— MLB-Transactions🇯🇵 (@tombaseball19) December 30, 2019
Via Google Translate:
[Breaking news]
Reds signs agreement with FA Shogo Akiyama (OF / 31) for more than $ 15 million for three years.
2019 results
143 games (678 at bats)
Batting average .303
20 home runs
Base rate.392
OPS.864
More on this as the news develops.
Quick thoughts on signing (report still unconfirmed): Akiyama turns 32 on April 16. This is the best scouting report on him that I’d seen as of a couple days ago. Was an excellent CF but age-related decline has set in. From the linked scouting report: “Once a terrific defensive center fielder with an above-average arm and very good range, Akiyama’s defensive results as tracked by Delta Graphs and Win Shares show a steady decline.” Small dimensions of GABP may be a lifeline for that, at least for now.
Akiyama is rehabbing a broken toe on his right foot.
Good contact and on-base skills with OK power. No obvious place for him to play without other roster moves. If game translates to MLB and he can play a capable CF, it’s good for club depth. Rest of the CF free agent pool was uninspiring. $15 million isn’t much money over three years, if those are the terms.
Where is he going to play?
Over pay?
I like this as of now, but am waiting to see what the Reds do next. A lot obviously depends on whether his on base skills translate.
Regardless of where he plays in the OF, the Reds now have 3 OFers who can play decent defense (I’m counting Aquino and of course Senzel). The defense in LF last year was atrocious. Winker has range issues and generally doesn’t dive for catchable balls, but I’m not even talking about him. Van Meter showed me that playing LF is much more difficult than it usually looks, and Peraza was almost as bad. No more IFers in the OF please, you need depth.
The Reds could not count on getting Castellano or Ozuna, Castellano has publicly expressed a preference for other teams and there will be a bidding war for both that will likely result in a serious overpay.
What’s the updated estimate on how much more the Reds will spend this off-season ?
I like Akiyama for depth or as a replacement CF for Senzel if he’s traded. He’d be OK as a corner guy. But I like the “depth” role better at $10m/2y. To me, if they go above $20m, that’s too expensive for a guy to just throw in the mix. You’ll start him most nights.
Based on the number I started the offseason with ($140 million) if Akiyama in 2020 is $6-$7 million, that would leave about $10 million. They haven’t done any relievers yet. I’d hate to think they were basically done now. Possible they’ll go well above $140m.
@PINSON343 At this point we don’t know what we have in Aquino. Can he translate into a serviceable Right Fielder and have a decent season or was he just a flash in the pan ? We shall find out this coming season. As for Winker, too inconsistent. 43 days till Spring Training. I don’t the Reds are done yet with player moves..if they fit.