Reds Sign Willy Taveras
By
Amanda
Posted at 11:15 am
This might be an OK deal if not for the field manager who will misuse him. I predict six weeks of Taveras leading off, hitting .193.
Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty announced Saturday the signing of free agent OF Willy Taveras to a two-year contract through the 2010 season.
Taveras, 27, in 133 games last season for the Colorado Rockies hit .251 and led the Major Leagues with 68 stolen bases and a .907 stolen base percentage (68-for-75).
Since 2005, Taveras leads the majors with 207 infield hits and ranks fifth in stolen bases with 168. In 2005 he won the The Sporting News’ National League Rookie of the Year Award and finished second to Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard in the BBWAA Rookie of the Year Award voting.
Taveras isn’t a terrible pick-up if you need a 4th outfielder. But considering the outfielders on the Reds roster already had 2 number 4 guys, I don’t think they needed another.
Still, it’s the kind of signing I could see working well, if I were confident at all Baker would use him properly. Taveras’ best year was 2007. When limited to 97 games, he had a Not Out Percentage of 74%. Whenever he’s played closer to a full season, it drops. And we know what Baker loves to do with speedy outfielders.