Cubs reportedly still interested in Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick
As previously reported, the Cubs are interested in outfielder Josh Reddick. The Cubs would like to add a left-handed hitting outfielder to the mix and have been connected to Reddick since Kyle Schwarber suffered the season-ending knee injury.
Theo Epstein and the front office are very familiar with Reddick from their days in Boston. The Red Sox drafted Reddick while Epstein was calling the shots. And Reddick has always been one of Epstein’s favorite players. Reddick would like to stay in Oakland and is open to signing an extension but the two sides remain far apart in negotiations. Reddick is a free agent at the end of the season.
Jon Paul Morosi reported Thursday morning that according to his sources the Cubs “are looking at Josh Reddick. His bat is coming around after missing nearly six weeks with a fractured thumb.
Susan Slusser has been on top of the story since the beginning. Slusser added to Morosi’s report and pointed out the Cubs had scouts following Reddick for several weeks.
Josh Reddick makes a lot of contact (29 strikeouts, 27 walks in 237 plate appearances) and is batting .301/.380/.445 with 10 doubles, a triple and six home runs for a .825 OPS this season. Reddick is 7-for-19 with four walks in his last six games. And this month, Reddick is batting .278/.371/.444 with four doubles, a triple and a home run for a .815 OPS. In 62 plate appearances, Reddick has more walks (8) than strikeouts (6).
Billy Beane is expected to trade Josh Reddick before the deadline and there are a lot of teams (Dodgers, Giants, Nationals, Blue Jays) believed to be interested in him.
- Could Josh Reddick Be an Option for the Cubs? [May 5]
- Report: Cubs Among Several Teams Scouting Josh Reddick [July 10]
- Player Acquisition Cost: OF Josh Reddick [July 18]