Reds GM Nick Krall: " "going into 2022, we must align our payroll to our resources and continue focusing on scouting and developing young talent from within our system"

"He is best known for his defense as a two-time Gold Glove winner, but the left-hander also came to the plate 388 times and was hit by a pitch eight times."

#1: The Reds have an option with a $500 k buyout ... they didn't have to pay Barnhart anything. If you were about to release the guy rather than pay him $7.5, then I guess it's a good move to pick up a piece. Quintana is so un-prospecty the writer of the article should be embarrassed to have called him a "prospect." He was a 2nd round pick in 2019 but hit under 200 in low A-A that year; in 2021, he hit under 200 in A. He was not in the Tigers' top 30 at mlb.com. HE's 24.

As a Reds fan, I've enjoyed having him behind the plate for the last several years. His defense will be missed.

I’ve noticed in the last two off seasons that a lot of the central division GMs are signaling each other about their spending intent. I’m surprised the union hasn’t complained about collusion. There’s no doubt they are all cutting costs simultaneously (and loudly ). The white Sox have also been vocal about their intent to spend during the “reinsdorf denouement”.

I got an email today from the Reds, announcing this trade.
I didn't open it, just deleted it, but I thought "who is Quintana on the Tigers?"
They didn't mention in the 2-4 line preview of the email that it also meant they were trading away Tucker Barnhart, I've just learned that here.

The Tigers got a useful player (it's uncertain when, or if, Jake "The Mustache" Rogers returns in 2022) and gave up practically nothing. Better than the Simon-for-Suarez deal, for sure.

Me for Akil Baddoo would be better than Simon-Suarez. (Alas, I'm an FA again.) Anyway, the Tigers got a useful player, the question is whether he's a $7.5 M useful player or could they maybe have gotten him cheaper if they'd waited for the Reds to decline the option (or an equivalent C for less but there's really nothing available on the FA market).

I was pretty sure the Reds were going to decline Barnhart's option. He slumped badly towards the end to finish with a 75 OPS+ (again). At this point he's a below-average starter, plus Tyler Stephenson looks ready to take over. I'm just surprised Detroit was ready to pull the trigger this early in the offseason on a not cheap marginal player.

I haven't followed all the iterations and developments in the calculation of bWAR, so I don't know what aspects of Barnhart's defense are truly considered. Every season but one, Tucker's bWAR has been between 0 and 1. He got paid off his 3+ WAR season, when he threw out a ridiculous 44% of base stealing attempts.

I will say that Barnhart's glove work (especially on picking/blocking balls in the dirt) is top shelf. Not sure if that's quantifiable but I'm pretty comfortable with the idea that Barnhart will be overpaid in 2022.

The narrative from the Tigers' front office is wanting to secure a premium defensive catcher to help along the development of Mize, Skubal, Manning, Lange, and their other young pitchers. And spending $7.5 million for a non-glaring need is a good sign for their pursuit of a top shortstop.

could they maybe have gotten him cheaper if they'd waited for the Reds to decline the option

I doubt anyone is going to take a discount to play for the Tigers

Bernard Truckhat

I wonder with transactions possibly getting frozen on December 1 if we're going to see a lot of activity in November.

I doubt anyone is going to take a discount to play for the Tigers

I doubt anyone was going to offer Barnhart $7.5 M. Do you think they were? Otherwise you don't have a counter-point.

I doubt anyone was going to offer Barnhart $7.5 M. Do you think they were? Otherwise you don't have a counter-point.

He very well could have taken a discount to play elsewhere, like a contender.