“Quad-A Players” Are Typically Just That
Every team occasionally relies on waiver wire pickups, career minor leaguers, and others who haven't found much success previously, and we don’t blame the Reds for following this practice. It's useful to have players who can be called up temporarily without the concern of having to designate them for assignment when someone returns from injury.
Unfortunately, due to injuries, these players have been thrust into larger roles than anticipated, and their performance has generally been lacking. Nick Martini, for example, had his moment on Opening Day, contributing significantly to a Reds' win—surpassing expectations for the entire year in a single game. However, his overall performance has reflected the reasons he has not settled into any team, with a 39 wRC+, 2.3% walk rate, and a .177/.200/.329 batting line. Bubba Thompson’s inability to hit has left his future uncertain, and Mike Ford, with just two hits in 16 at-bats, is also in limbo.
This situation underscores why we previously argued for an upgrade over Stuart Fairchild. The Reds, on paper, didn’t need to fill multiple starting positions; they were in a position to invest in a better platoon option for Benson/Fraley and enhance the fourth outfielder spot. While the free agent market was not robust, a trade might have been a viable option to acquire such a player.
