To bolster their depth behind the plate, the Cincinnati Reds have signed former SF Giants catcher Austin Wynns to a one-year, $950,000 deal, the club announced on Thursday,
With Luke Maile and Tyler Stephenson ahead of him on the catching depth chart, Wynns joins an organization that currently serves as one of the few teams that could operate with three catchers on their active roster –– many of Stephenson’s plate appearances have come as the Reds designated hitter.
Wynns, 32, played 65 games with the Giants in 2022 after a midseason trade with the Philadelphia Phillies brought him to San Francisco. With rookie Joey Bart struggling to adapt to a full-time role and veteran backstop Curt Casali soon to be traded in August, Wynns earned enough trust from the pitching staff to be a permanent piece for the rest of the season. He finished the season slashing .259/.313/.358 in 177 plate appearances with three homers and 21 runs batted in.
While they brought him back to compete for a role in 2023, the acquisition of veteran Roberto Perez and Rule 5 selection Blake Sabol created a log jam that ultimately prevented Wynns from cracking the opening day roster. However, he did appear in one game during a brief April 9 cameo before the Giants designated him for assignment the very next day.
From there, Wynns embarked on a self-guided tour through the National League West. After a five-game stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wynns finished the season as the backup catcher for the Rockies. In 45 games with Colorado, Wynns notched a .555 OPS with a homer and eight runs batted in.
While Wynns won’t provide excessive offensive production, he’ll serve as a solid receiver for the young arms the Reds have on their pitching staff.
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