The Cincinnati Reds, like all Major League Baseball teams, have to make tough decisions about their players. One such decision was letting go of Billy Hamilton, a speedy outfielder who had been with the team for several years.
While Hamilton was known for his speed and defense, he struggled at the plate and was a polarizing player among fans.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why the Reds decided to part ways with Hamilton. We’ll analyze Hamilton’s performance, the team’s priorities and needs, and other factors that may have influenced the decision.
By the end, we’ll have a better understanding of why the Reds made this move and what it means for the team’s future.
Hamilton’s Career With the Reds
Billy Hamilton was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut on September 3, 2013, and played with the Reds until 2018.
During his time with the Reds, Hamilton was primarily known for his speed and defensive prowess. He won a Gold Glove Award for his defensive play in center field in 2014.
However, Hamilton struggled at the plate throughout his career. His career batting average was .241, and he only hit 21 home runs in his six seasons with the Reds. He was often criticized for his lack of offensive production and for his high strikeout rate.
In comparison to other players on the team, Hamilton’s offensive numbers were significantly lower than many of his teammates.
Despite his struggles at the plate, Hamilton was a valuable player for the Reds in other ways. His speed on the basepaths allowed him to steal a lot of bases, and he led the league in stolen bases in both 2014 and 2016.
His defensive skills were also highly regarded, and he made numerous highlight-reel catches throughout his time with the team. Overall, Hamilton’s strengths were in his speed and defense, while his weaknesses were in his hitting and offensive production.
The Reds’ Priorities and Needs
When the Reds decided to part ways with Billy Hamilton, their top priority was improving their pitching. According to Dick Williams, the team’s president of baseball operations, “We just didn’t feel that locking him into the budget was a helpful thing for us when pitching is our No. 1 need.”
The Reds had struggled with pitching in the seasons leading up to Hamilton’s departure. In 2018, the team had the third-worst ERA in the National League, and their starting rotation was particularly weak.
The team’s management realized that in order to compete and improve their overall performance, they needed to invest in their pitching staff.
Hamilton’s salary was a factor in the team’s decision to let him go. According to reports, Hamilton was set to earn around $5.9 million in arbitration for the 2019 season.
The Reds did not want to be limited by his salary when it came to investing in pitching. As Williams stated, “Pitching is our No. 1 need.”
The Reds made it clear that they were not going to let Hamilton’s salary restrict their ability to improve their pitching staff. According to Reds general manager Nick Krall, “We’re not going to spend all of our resources on one player.”
The team’s decision to part ways with Hamilton was ultimately driven by their desire to improve their pitching and invest in their overall success, rather than being limited by his salary and performance.
Hamilton’s Performance and Contribution
As mentioned earlier, Billy Hamilton’s main strengths were his speed and defensive abilities, while his weakness was his performance at the plate. In the seasons leading up to his departure, Hamilton’s performance was consistent with his career numbers.
In 2018, his final season with the Reds, Hamilton batted .236 with 4 home runs, 29 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of .299. While his stolen base numbers were still strong (he stole 34 bases), his overall offensive production was lacking compared to other players in the league.
In terms of his defensive play, Hamilton continued to be a standout center fielder. In 2018, he recorded 11 Defensive Runs Saved and made numerous highlight-reel catches throughout the season.
Despite his individual strengths, Hamilton’s contributions to the team’s overall success were limited. The Reds struggled in the seasons that Hamilton was with the team, failing to make the playoffs in any of those years.
While Hamilton’s defensive play and speed on the basepaths were valuable, his lack of offensive production and high strikeout rate was viewed as liabilities.
When comparing Hamilton’s performance to that of other players who played similar positions or had similar salaries, his offensive production was generally lower.
For example, in 2018, Lorenzo Cain, another center fielder in the National League, had a batting average of .308 with 10 home runs and 30 stolen bases, compared to Hamilton’s .236 average, 4 home runs, and 34 stolen bases.
In summary, while Hamilton’s speed and defensive skills were valuable, his lack of offensive production and high salary made him less valuable to the team when compared to other players at his position or with similar salaries.
His contributions to the team’s overall success were limited, and the Reds decided to invest in their pitching staff instead of keeping Hamilton.
Other Factors and Considerations
There were several other factors and considerations that may have influenced the Reds’ decision to get rid of Billy Hamilton.
First, team culture may have played a role in the decision. The Reds were going through a period of transition, with new management and a focus on rebuilding the team.
It’s possible that the team’s management felt that Hamilton did not fit with their vision for the team’s future and that they wanted to make a clean break from the past.
Second, fan opinion may have also been a factor. While Hamilton was a popular player among some fans due to his exciting plays on the field, others were critical of his lack of offensive production and high strikeout rate.
It’s possible that the team’s management took fan opinion into consideration when making the decision to let him go.
Third, there were reports that Hamilton’s attitude or behavior may have been a factor in the decision. While the team’s management did not cite any specific incidents, there were rumors that Hamilton had clashed with teammates or coaches in the past.
It’s possible that the team’s management felt that Hamilton’s behavior was not conducive to a positive team environment.
Finally, the Reds may have explored potential trade offers or negotiations before deciding to release Hamilton.
There were reports that the team had been shopping Hamilton around to other teams, but that they were unable to find a trade partner willing to take on his salary.
In the end, it’s likely that a combination of factors led to the Reds’ decision to get rid of Hamilton. While his speed and defensive skills were valuable, his lack of offensive production, high salary, and potential personality issues may have made him less valuable to the team than other options.
Comparison of Reds Outfielders, 2014-2018
| Player Name | Games Played | Plate Appearances | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage | Stolen Bases | Defensive Runs Saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Hamilton | 576 | 2386 | .245 | .298 | .333 | 277 | 47 |
| Adam Duvall | 271 | 1061 | .233 | .294 | .447 | 10 | 4 |
| Jay Bruce | 455 | 1894 | .246 | .309 | .469 | 11 | -7 |
| Scott Schebler | 320 | 1259 | .248 | .323 | .457 | 7 | -14 |
| Jesse Winker | 89 | 281 | .298 | .375 | .529 | 0 | -4 |
Note: Data were taken from Baseball-Reference.
As can be seen from the table, Hamilton played significantly more games and had more plate appearances than the other outfielders during this period.
However, his batting average and on-base percentage were lower than those of Winker, who played a relatively small number of games but had an impressive offensive showing.
Hamilton’s defensive prowess is also evident in the fact that he had significantly more defensive runs saved than any of the other outfielders, although Duvall and Bruce had more stolen bases.
Overall, this table suggests that Hamilton’s value to the Reds was primarily due to his defense and speed on the basepaths, rather than his offensive production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the reaction of Reds fans to Hamilton’s release?
There were mixed reactions among Reds fans to Hamilton’s release. Some fans were disappointed to see him go, while others felt that his lack of offensive production and high salary made him expendable. Overall, however, most fans seemed to understand the team’s decision to focus on pitching and move on from Hamilton.
Did the Reds regret releasing Hamilton?
It’s difficult to say whether the Reds regretted releasing Hamilton, as the team’s management has not made any public statements to that effect. However, Hamilton’s performance in subsequent seasons with other teams suggests that he may not have been as valuable to the Reds as he was to other teams.
What impact did Hamilton’s departure have on the Reds’ performance?
It’s difficult to quantify the impact of Hamilton’s departure on the Reds’ performance, as there were many other factors at play. However, it’s worth noting that the Reds have not made the playoffs since Hamilton’s departure, although this is likely due to a combination of factors beyond Hamilton’s absence.
What teams have Hamilton played for since leaving the Reds?
Since leaving the Reds, Hamilton has played for the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and Cleveland Guardians. He is currently a free agent.
What is Hamilton’s current status as a player?
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Hamilton was a free agent and had not signed with any team for the 2022 season. It’s possible that he may sign with a team in the future, but at this point his status is uncertain.
To Recap
Billy Hamilton’s departure from the Reds was the result of several factors, including the team’s priorities and needs, Hamilton’s performance and contribution to the team, and other considerations such as team culture and fan opinion.
While Hamilton was a valuable player in certain respects, his offensive production and high salary made him less valuable to the team than other options.
Ultimately, the Reds decided to invest in their pitching staff instead of keeping Hamilton, and he was released. Hamilton has since played for several other teams, but his time with the Reds will always be remembered for his standout defensive play and incredible speed on the basepaths.
