Reds release infielder Derek Dietrich

The Cincinnati Reds parted ways with Derek Dietrich.

The Cincinnati Reds, while under .500 once again in 2019, were surprisingly fun to watch thanks to a dominant rotation and powerful sluggers like Aristides Aquino and Derek Dietrich. Within the span of a few days, the club has confirmed that both of them will not start the season on the active roster, with the latter even being given a release.

Just two days after his 31st birthday, the Reds granted Dietrich’s request to be released. After nearly hitting 20 home runs a season ago, Dietrich is now a man without a club just a few days before the start of the 2020 season.

Derek Dietrich was productive for the Reds in 2019.

Dietrich, who spent the first six years of his career with the Miami Marlins, was a very polarizing player. On one hand, he smacked 19 home runs last season and was hit by 25 pitches, which shows that he can get on base with ease while possessing enough power to do some damage. His defensive versatility is another plus.

On the other hand, he mustered just a .187 average, including an average of .150 or worse in every month from June onwards. He also collected just four hits during the entire season against left-handed pitching, meaning he likely isn’t capable of handling the responsibility of starting.

Even with his many faults, Dietrich can put the ball in the seats, which should get teams interested in scooping him up as a free agent.

Dietrich has a very unusual player profile, and he’s never going to contend for a batting title given the holes in his swing, but he can generate instant pop off of the bench while playing several defensive positions. By the end of the year, he will be on a big-league club given his skillset.