The Reds announced that outfielder Wil Myers, who was designated for assignment earlier this week, has now been released.
It’s hardly a shock to see Myers released, given the combination of his contract and results this year. The club signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason with a $7.5MM guarantee. That came in the form of a $6MM salary this year and a $1.5MM buyout on a mutual option. The rebuilding Reds were surely hoping for Myers to serve as a reliable veteran presence who became a trade candidate by midseason.
Unfortunately, Myers hit just .189/.257/.283 through 141 plate appearances before landing on the injured list in May due to kidney stones. By the time he was ready to come off the IL, various Cincinnati prospects had hit the ground running in the big leagues and vaulted the team into first place. With the rebuild suddenly appearing to be over, there was little room left for Myers to get the necessary playing time to get into a groove, so he was designated for assignment instead.
Myers will now head to the open market in search of his next opportunity. Despite his poor results this year, clubs may be intrigued by his career output. He’s hit .252/.326/.437 for a wRC+ of 107 in 1100 career games dating back to 2013. He can be slotted into an outfield corner or first base, and can even play third in a pinch. He also hit .261/.315/.398 for a wRC+ of 106 as recently as last year.
Any club willing to take a chance on Myers would do so with no financial risk. The Reds will remain on the hook for what’s left of that contract, leaving any other club free to sign him and pay him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the roster. That amount would be subtracted from what the Reds pay.