Cincinnati’s search for a center field partner for Carlos Jorge may have gotten a little easier after Houston cut Jake Meyers loose.
Jorge, who made his Major League debut in 2026, is already known for two things: speed and glove work. The Reds want him in the mix for an Opening Day job next season, but the club can’t bank on one player carrying the whole center field picture. That’s where Meyers starts to make sense.
Houston designated Meyers for assignment after a season that was interrupted by injuries, but his 2025 production still stood out. He hit .292/.354/.373 and swiped 16 bases while giving the Astros Gold Glove-caliber defense in center. Over his career, he has piled up 22 defensive runs saved and 43 outs above average, which is exactly the kind of profile that tends to fit on a roster looking for defense first.
The left-handed pitching split is part of what makes the fit interesting. Jorge struggled against lefties in the minors last season, hitting .261/.329/.348 in 69 at-bats, while he was much better against right-handers at .305/.373/.430.
Meyers, meanwhile, has handled lefties to the tune of .256/.312/.406 for his career. That gives Cincinnati a potential platoon setup with cleaner edges than simply hoping Jorge can cover every matchup on his own.
The Reds have already talked about wanting more platoon options for Terry Francona, and with payroll expectations in mind, a low-cost bounce-back bet like Meyers could be right in Nick Krall’s wheelhouse.
There are also moving parts elsewhere in the outfield picture. Blake Dunn is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and his return timeline is still unknown.
Dane Myers held his own in center after TJ Friedl was optioned to the minors, but the numbers don’t paint him as an above-average defender. He posted -8 DRS and 1 OAA in center last season.
Meyers might fit better in a different role if Cincinnati wanted to get creative. He could pair with JJ Bleday in left field, and his arm strength would also play alongside Héctor Rodríguez in right.
For a team that needs its smaller moves to matter, this is the kind of pickup that could fit. If Meyers is fully recovered from the oblique strain that limited him to 57 games last season, the Reds may decide the gamble is worth taking.
In Other News...
Carlos Jorge Is Giving Reds Fans A Real Outfield Reason To Watch
Major League Baseballs Gold Glove announcement left the Reds empty-handed, but there was at least one defensive bright spot tied to the organization. Minor League Baseball recognized Carlos Jorge, who finished the year with Cincinnati, as one of the seasons top outfield defenders, a nod that gives the club something to point to even with the big-league awards coming up short.
Jorge has also carried that momentum into winter ball, where he has been producing at the plate in the Dominican Winter League. In one recent game, he piled up three hits, two steals, three runs scored and two RBIs, a reminder that his value is not limited to the glove and that his name is starting to pop in more than one setting. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Could Be Tempted By A Power Bat With Serious Risk
A winter roster squeeze in Boston has put Triston Casas in an unusual spot, and that could matter for teams looking to add left-handed power without paying top-tier prices. The Red Sox first baseman still has enough offensive upside to draw interest, but his path has been complicated by injuries and a dip in production since 2023, which is why his future is being discussed at all despite a relatively modest arbitration projection.
For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious. The Reds have been searching for ways to deepen the lineup and could view Casas as the kind of bat that changes the look of the order if hes healthy and productive. But the risk is just as clear, because his recent track record makes him far from a clean fit, and any club that gets involved would need a backup plan in place if the gamble doesnt pay off. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Enter A Crucial Offseason With One Big Decision Looming
The offseason has arrived with plenty for Cincinnati to sort through, and the free-agent list is already long enough to make the next few days feel consequential. Tyler Stephenson, Brock Burke, Brady Singer, Emilio Pagn, Eugenio Surez and Pierce Johnson are among the names now on the market, giving the Reds a mix of bullpen, rotation and lineup questions to weigh as they map out the winter.
Carlos Jorge added a brighter note to the organizations end-of-year picture, earning a Minor League Gold Glove and getting a late-season look in the majors. The defense is clearly there, but his bat will need to take a step forward if he is going to stick, which leaves Cincinnati with another evaluation to make as the roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]