Cincinnati Reds reportedly discussing contract with free-agent Ryan Ludwick – MLB News
The prospects of veteran Ryan Ludwick coming back to Cincinnati Reds appear to be ever brighter as reports surfaced on Thursday, November 29, that the club has shown interest in re-signing the player. Earlier, Ludwick had declined the mutual option of $5 million, becoming a free agent.
Ludwick is said to be looking for a multi-year deal. It was earlier this year that he had signed a contract of $2.5 million for 2012 with the Cincinnati Reds after serving the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
While his stint with the two teams was not particularly good, since he struggled massively, 2012 remained a successful year as the player made a resurgence that neither went unnoticed nor unacknowledged.
In 125 games that Ryan Ludwick appeared for the Reds this past season, he went on to have .275 average, .346 OBP and .531 slugging percentage. He also managed 26 homers and 80 RBIs – having had 116 hits in 422 at-bats.
That is what seems to have prompted the Reds to explore if they can bring him back in the team. His agent, Dan Horwits, indicated that both the veteran player and Cincinnati Reds are interested in the deal.
"We've been in contact (with the Reds)," his agent Dan Horwits said. "There's interest on both sides. Hopefully, we can get something done. We're talking to other clubs. He has offers from other clubs."
Ludwick’s feat was all the more important because he rallied the offence at a time when the accomplished slugger Joey Votto was out of the line-up due to a knee injury and subsequent surgery.
During Votto’s absence, Ludwick batted a .340 average. That also helped the Reds sit atop the National League Central and subsequently helped the team get a place in the National League Division Series.
With such a performance that he exhibited, the Reds wanted to retain him. In fact, with what Ludwick’s agent said, there still seems some interest. If there was any explanation why Ludwick had earlier turned down the mutual option, it might well be for looking other available options to him.
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