Cincinnati Reds have confirmed the signing of another experienced star on a big league deal.
Do you appreciate being confused? If so, you must be enjoying the last week of the Mike Ford and Cincinnati Reds chronology. Ford, who was with Triple-A Louisville at the time, chose to opt out of his contract with the club since he was on a minor league deal with an opt-out date. That placed the Reds on the clock to determine whether to release him or add him to their major league roster. They eventually decided to grant him his liberty. Fast forward a few days, and the Reds have signed him to a major league contract, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Three days ago, Mike Ford was not good enough to be called up to the big leagues, and they clung to Nick Martini and Bubba Thompson at the end of their bench. Yesterday, the Reds optioned Martini and Thompson to the minors and promoted Conner Capel from Triple-A, who needed a 40-man roster slot. When the Ford transaction becomes official, we will have to be called up since he is out of options and will need a roster change on both the 26- and 40-man rosters.
The transfer has been formally announced, along with Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s placement on the injured list due to a wrist fracture and Brandon Williamson’s relocation to the 60-day injured list to clear a position on the 40-man roster. Ford will join the Reds’ major league club. In April, he blasted the ball in Triple-A for Louisville. In 22 games with the Bats, he batted.325/.412/.590 with 12 walks, 10 extra-base hits, and 18 strikeouts in 97 plate appearances. Despite being a left-handed batter, he dominated left-handed pitching in the minors this season, hitting.370/.485/.778 against them in 33 plate appearances. He was effective against right-handed pitchers, hitting.266/.333/.438.
The Reds’ offense has been in a rut unprecedented in nearly 50 years. Matt Wilkes informs out that the Reds’ OPS of.490 over the previous 11 games is the club’s lowest in that timeframe since 1971. Perhaps Ford, who has not played since May, can help get things rolling in the right direction.
