Diamondbacks’ Trade of Addison Reed Frees Up More Money
By Thomas Lynch
Aug 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Addison Reed (43) pitches during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks won 13-1. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded reliever Addison Reed, a wave of excitement fell over a good number of their fans. As our own Guillermo Salcido noted, Reed had a less than stellar career in the desert. It began in his second appearance for the D-backs last year when he surrendered a two-run home run to Buster Posey to lose a game and it never really recovered. However, I look at it differently. In my mind, the front office freed up some more money to go shopping this offseason.
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Reed is making $4.88 million dollars this year, his first in an arbitration-eligible season. He would have been under the D-backs’ control for the next two years, probably commanding a salary of upwards of $5 million next year and close to $6 million the year after that. That is not an insignificant number for the mid-market Snakes. Plus, management is clearly looking at closers, nearly completing a deal for Aroldis Chapman, and the addition of a new one would allow Brad Ziegler to go back to a setup role. Close to $12 million dollars over the next two years for a guy who will be no more than a sixth of seventh inning guy is a bit much for any club. The D-backs wiill be able to fill that role either in-house or with a cheaper alternative.
The front office (including Kevin Towers last year) has done a good job shedding payroll commitments beyond 2015. It started with Martin Prado and has since continued through this year with guys like Trevor Cahill, Bronson Arroyo and now Reed being jettisoned. The one drawback was the trade of 2014 first round pick Touki Toussaint. In order for that dump to be justified along with all of the other salaries coming off the books, a significant free agent acquisition must be made. I’m not talking Yovani Gallardo and Marco Estrada who would be good complimentary pieces. I mean the biggest one of all: David Price.