It’s likely that all of Reds Country can agree that the Cincinnati outfield is the biggest area of need as the MLB Winter Meetings are set to begin.
The first week of December is oftentimes when deals get done, or at least are set in motion. Agents and general managers are all in one place, and this year, the MLB Winter Meetings will be in-person for the first time since 2019.
After signing Luke Maile to be the Cincinnati Reds backup catcher in 2023, GM Nick Krall’s task should be to add a right-handed hitting outfielder to the club. Which three free agent outfielders should the Reds target at the Winter Meetings?
With Aristides Aquino set to play overseas in 2023, the Cincinnati Reds outfield will need to find a capable defender. Cincinnati’s outfield defense was lousy in 2022. NIck Senzel, TJ Friedl, and Jake Fraley combined for -21 defensive runs saved last season according to Fielding Bible.
Jake Marisnick, who played most of the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, is a free agent this offseason. Marisnick is a journeyman who has spent time with six different organizations throughout his 10-year major league career.
Marisnick is not going to be confused for the elite-hitting outfielders in this year’s free agent class. For his career, Marisnick has hit .228/.281/.384, but the 31-year-old does have 76 DRS and can play all three outfield positions.
Jake Marisnick could platoon with TJ Friedl or Jake Fraley in the outfield, although the Californian actually produced reverse splits in 2022, slashing .324/.342/.487 against right-handed pitchers. However, his career splits favor the lefty-righty matchup.
Marisnick would fit the mold of a low-cost free agent acquisition, similar to Luke Maile, and would fill a need for the Cincinnati Reds. But, one could argue that those at-bats would be better served going to Stuart Fairchild. Still, the Reds could do a lot worse than adding the defensive-minded Marisnick to the roster.