Moose signed a $64M contract with the Reds and was worth -1.8 rWAR with them in 184 games.

The Cubs were reportedly looking at Casali and I think they should also have been looking at Myers. There's not much left out there for filling holes at C and 1B.

The Cubs got Tucker Barnhart instead.

2 good moves by the Reds here. I'm especially surprised they're willing to eat Moose's contract.

In the Reds position, I'd have just stuck with Moose. The Reds are a bad team, and they won't be good again for a while.

Myers is better than Moustakas, but those 2 wins aren't going to matter in 2023, and in 2024 they will both be free agents. If the Reds need a temporary warm body for 1B/DH, they already had Moose on the roster.

Myers made four pitching appearances last year. Gave up two HR in the first, but after that had an ERA 3.38 (one additional HR) in 2-2/3 innings; so, 3-2/3, 7.36 overall. No walks, no strikeouts.

Not exactly Mitch Moreland out there on the mound, but given current tactics, maybe worth a little extra to a team. And maybe not.

$7.5M? Yikes, how close have the Reds come to crossing the luxury tax point of no return?

In the Reds position, I'd have just stuck with Moose. The Reds are a bad team, and they won't be good again for a while.

Myers is better than Moustakas, but those 2 wins aren't going to matter in 2023, and in 2024 they will both be free agents. If the Reds need a temporary warm body for 1B/DH, they already had Moose on the roster.

Ah, but the context - this is the "where else you gonna go?" franchise.

They may not be going anywhere soon, but at least it looks like they aren't OK with losing 100 games again.

The Cubs got Tucker Barnhart instead.

OK. I did look to see if there'd been a move but the transaction list I saw didn't have aything from the Cubs. I think I'd rather have Casali but tomato-Roberto Perez.

Why spend $7.5 million ? Was there a big demand for him ?

Would Myers be worth his contracts if he'd stayed a passable catcher like he was in the minors?

Why spend $7.5 million ? Was there a big demand for him ?

He has been league average, is only 32, I would guess the bottom feeders had some demand in him as a legit bat. $7.5M is like the vet minimum now for a non-terrible hitter. If Carlos Santana is worth $6.7M, then Myers is easily worth $7.5M.

Why spend $7.5 million ? Was there a big demand for him ?

This is roughly 1.5 WAR or a bit less money. I wouldn't be surprised if 2/3 of the teams couldn't have used Myers at this price. He's a consistent 110 OPS+ bat who plays an average LF, above-average 1B and isn't a laughable DH in the universal DH era. There aren't many teams that have a better player than Myers at all three spots and, even if they do, he's probably better than their current 4th OF.

My question then is how did this guy end up on the Reds? As near as I can tell, at the moment the Giants 1B/DH/4th OF is some combo of Wilmer Flores, Tommy LaStella, JD Davis and LaMonte Wade Jr. The Ms have a 1B but looks like they could sure use a 450-PA LF/DH guy. He'd be a better fit if he was LHB but the O's could use a guy like this. Which isn't to deny he's quite fungible -- he's Mitch Moreland with the extra ability to play a passable LF and lots of teams will have a 25-yo who costs nothing and isn't much worse than Myers (and might prove themselves to be better). Come July he might find himself on a contender.