Outfielder Josh Reddick wants to remain with the Oakland Athletics, but not much discussion has been had for a new contract.
Continue for updates.
A’s Want Reddick Beyond This Year
Thursday, March 3
Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane said Thursday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio he wants to lock up Reddick to a long-term deal, per ESPN’s Jim Bowden.
In his fourth season in Oakland, Reddick hit a team-leading 20 home runs and drove in 77 runs for the 68-win A’s in 2015.
The Athletics acquired Reddick in December 2011 in a trade centered around All-Star closer Andrew Bailey. He’s played over 100 games each year since arriving in Oakland and hit a career-high 32 homers in 2012.
Reddick became Oakland’s top batter once the A’s traded All-Star and eventual American League MVP Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays in November 2014. The 29-year-old Reddick, from Middle Georgia College, led the Athletics with a .449 slugging percentage and was second on the team, batting .272 in 2015.
Reddick will make $6.575 million this year before becoming a free agent next offseason. John Hickey from Bay Area News Group said on Jan. 24 that Reddick was looking forward to talking about a multiyear deal.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Feb. 23 no talks between Reddick and the A’s had taken place during that span.
Last season was the first time since 1997 the A’s finished below 70 wins. Dayn Perry of CBS Sports predicted they’d be a 78-win team this season, though still far away from the top of the American League West. It’s unclear how long the A’s will be near the bottom of the division, but retaining Reddick for the next few years solidifies the three-hole or even the cleanup spot for a rebuilding Oakland team.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Follow Danny Webster on Twitter.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com