Reds Rumor Roundup - Luis Robert, James McCann, & the Rule 5 Draft

The latest from MLB’s Winter Meetings!

At his best, Luis Robert sports the kind of game-changing upside that few in the sport possess. As recently as the 2023 season, he blasted 38 homers, swiped 20 bags, slugged .542, and sported Gold Glove caliber defense in CF - one of the most premium defensive positions on the field.

He’s won a Gold Glove already, as well as a Silver Slugger Award. He’s entering his age-27 season, too, meaning he’s theoretically just now entering his ‘prime.’

These are the things that the Chicago White Sox would point out to any team looking to acquire Robert, who’s potentially under team control through the 2027 season for a total of $55 million (should his 2026 and 2027 options at $20 million per season be picked up). It’s that cash, though, and the flipside of the Robert conundrum that may end up being why the Cincinnati Reds don’t land Robert to anchor their lineup.

Per Gordon Wittenmyer of The Enquirer, the Reds have “at least checked in” on Robert as the Sox continue their firesale and rebuild. Putting the prospects/big leaguers on the trade block to acquire Robert (and that potential financial commitment) appears to be a bit of a predictable stumbling block for the Reds, however, especially when you factor in Robert’s extensive injury woes.

He stayed mostly healthy during the shortened 2020 season (56 games played), but in the four full seasons that have followed he’s played more than 100 games in a season just once - that brilliant 2023 campaign in which he appeared in 145 games. Wrist, hamstring, groin, and knee issues are just some of the things that have plagued him, and while his offensive profile is mostly solid, that kind of repeated history of leg problems makes you wonder if his speed and defense may age quicker than his bat.

For a Reds team that can’t afford any payroll mistakes, that makes him potentially a little too high-risk/high-reward for their usual risk-averse nature.

In other news, it appears the Reds may be narrowing their search for a replacement for Luke Maile as the team’s backup catcher behind Tyler Stephenson. Per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, former White Sox backstop (and, more recently, Adley Rutchsman’s backup in Baltimore) James McCann has emerged as a target.

As is the case with most all mid-30’s backup catchers, he once hit well enough years ago to warrant a lengthy stay within the big leagues, but it’s now been four full years of combined 77 OPS+ for McCann since he broke out and made the 2019 All Star team with Chicago. Presumably he can still throw out runners at a decent clip and stay in the game after taking a few foul balls off his shins, however, and the hope will surely be he only has to do that every now and then since Stephenson will be eyeing another 500+ PA season in 2025.

Finally, the Rule 5 Draft will take place today beginning at 2 PM ET. The Reds hold the 9th overall selection.