Ex Yankees first baseman agrees to sign a deal

The Reds get a former Yankee player.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds and former New York Yankees first baseman Mike Ford have reached an agreement to sign a deal. Heyman also revealed deal details:

“Mike Ford joins the Reds on a minor league contract. $1.3 million pay in majors, plus an additional 125 thousand in incentives.”Spring training and other opt-outs included,” Heyman posted on X (previously Twitter)

Ford, 31, quietly had a decent season with the Seattle Mariners in 2023. He hit.228/.323/.475/.798 with 16 home homers in 83 games. Ford has also played for the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Yankees.

Ford spent the first three years of his career in New York. The massive left-handed batter showed glimpses of power potential during his rookie season in 2019. Ford played in just 50 games but hit 12 home runs and had a.909 OPS.

It will be intriguing to see if Ford makes the Reds’ major league roster out of spring training. Cincinnati could use depth at first base and designated hitter, so Ford has a good chance of making the roster. Even if he does not play every day, Ford’s presence on the bench would be beneficial.

The Reds aim to take the next step forward in 2024. Cincinnati finished the 2023 season with an 82-80 record, a major improvement over 2022. They were also in contention for the National League Wild Card down the line.

Cincinnati has a youthful and promising squad, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they clinched an NL Wild Card berth soon, potentially in 2024.