Cincinnati Reds sign former Blue Jays’ star Fred Lewis from free agency
Cincinnati Reds have packed their roster up with 40 players already. With the spring training session still being almost a month away, the move can be called a smart one. The need for adjusting the club’s line up comes with the major task of improving the
roster, and making it better than the other teams in the league.
While last year’s players will provide the necessary cover to the team in terms of defensive play, new stars have made their way to the team with the objective of diversifying the team’s tactics and strategy. General Manager Walt Jocketty has been very active
this winter. His role in the Winter Meetings was limited to the high-budget expenditure plan that was set up to accommodate the existing roster.
Nevertheless, a cheap deal for Fred Lewis will be viewed positively, given the outfield advantage he will pass onto the management at the club. Fred, who played for the Toronto Blue Jays, has penned a one-year deal with the Reds worth $900,000.
The outfielder comes to the side following a denial of interest in Scott Podsednik, who was also available in the market and can play in the outfield position.
"We felt we had more upside with Lewis, both with his age and in having control over him for a longer period of time," Jocketty said. "We liked his all-around game. We think he'll fit in well with our club. He feels he's capable of stealing more bases than
he did. I'm anxious to see what he can do. He'll be a fun guy to watch."
Fred was instrumental for the Blue Jays last season, as he put in a number of strong performances for the club in the field. His performance on the plate was notable too. The left-fielder was able to maintain a stable batting average of .262. Furthermore,
his 110 games for the club saw him manage 36 Runs Batted In (RBI) and 8 home runs.
Lewis’ on base percentage was .332 and his slugging percentage was .414. Although he wasn’t a hot asset in the free agency, his 70 runs for the team in 2010 make him a good prospect in the Reds’ roster.
"There were multiple offers but none presented the fit Cincinnati did - from the manager on down," Lewis' agent, Scott Leventhal, said. "His ability to lead off is something everybody is excited about. He's able to do whatever (manager) Dusty Baker needs."
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