Reds Re-Sign Mike Ford To Major League Dea

2:40pm : Encarnacion-Strand is going to mi s a month to six weeks, manager David Bell tells . 2:15pm : Fords deal is worth $1.3MM plus incentives, per . A suming thats prorated, hell make just over $1MM for the rest of the year. 1:35pm : The Reds announced Fords signing and the corresponding moves. Encarnacion-Strand has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right ulnar styloid fracture. Its unclear how long they expect him to be out of action. To open a 40-man spot, lefty was transferred to the 60-day IL. Hes been on the 15-day IL all year due to shoulder sorene s. reported over a week ago that Williamson will be starting a rehab a signment May 9. Hes now ineligible to be activated until late May, 60 days from his initial IL placement, but hell likely need a few weeks to get stretched out anyhow. 12:15pm : The Reds are bringing first baseman/designated hitter back to the organization this time on a major league contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The ZS Sports client will join the big league roster today. Cincinnati hasnt announced the signing and will need to open a spot on the 40-man roster before Fords deal can become official. Its the third time Ford has signed with the Reds in fewer than three months. Hes previously signed and opted out of a pair of minor league contracts. The Reds couldve added Ford to the big league roster when he triggered his opt-out clause last Friday but instead opted to let him become a free agent and test the market. Its clear based on the number of times theyve signed him that the Reds like the player, however, and it seems they were willing to match Evgeny Kuznetsov Jersey or beat whatever other offers Ford found in his brief foray into early season free agency. Ford, 31, raked at a staggering .455/.486/.727 clip with three homers in 31 spring plate appearances before opening the season with a gaudy .297/.381/.538 slash in his first 105 Triple-A plate appearances. Hes cut his strikeout rate to a manageable 19.4% and coupled it with a stout 11.4% walk rate during his short time with Louisville. Those impre sive numbers come on the heels of a .228/.323/.475 slash in 251 plate appearances with the 2023 Mariners. Ford clobbered 16 home runs and walked at a strong 9.6% clip last year, but his 32.3% strikeout rate was an obvious eyesore. It was also nothing particularly new for Ford, a former Yankees farmhand whos long had plus power and questionable bat-to-ball skills. In 719 big league plate appearances, Ford is a career .211/.309/.418 hitter. Hes actually hit fellow lefties better than righties, albeit in a small sample of 108 plate appearances compared to 611 plate appearances against righties. Fords addition to the roster comes at a time when both is struggling and when fellow lefty DH option has already been optioned to the minors. Encarnacion-Strand has been the primary first baseman in Cincinnati, logging 29 games at the position, but hes flailed his way to a .190/.220/.293 slash in 123 plate appearances. Encarnacion-Strand has long had contact i sues and sub-par walk rates, but this years 28.5% strikeout rate and microscopic 3.3% walk rate underscore that worrisome approach at the plate. Ford will give the Reds a lefty-swinging alternative at first base or perhaps simply a regular option in the DH slot. The Reds have used a wide cast of characters there, but Ford could offer more stability in that role. If Cincinnati goes that route, one solution could be to option the struggling (.191/.273/.391, 41.6% strikeout rate) and go with a regular outfield of , and . Riley Stillman Jersey