It’s a tough life in Major League Baseball. One year, you could be an All-Star, and a year or two later, you could face your demise. Wil Myers, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds, now feels this sentiment. The Reds released the struggling outfielder/first baseman on Friday.
The #Reds today released OF Wil Myers.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 23, 2023
The first-place Reds had just recently designated Myers for assignment earlier this week. Back in May, Myers was placed on the injured list with kidney stones and a shoulder strain. With Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz taking over everyday roles in his absence and Joey Votto returning from the injured list, his days were numbered.
Though, between his contract and his results, or lack thereof, this was the expected outcome.
Myers had gone through significant struggles in his age-32 season. He hit just .189/.257/.283 before the Reds’ decision on him, with a wRC+ of just 42. The “league average” wRC+ is at 100. After spending the last eight seasons with the Padres, the Reds signed Myers to a one-year deal this past offseason. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Myers’s deal came with a $7.5MM guarantee ($6MM salary + $1.5MM buyout)
Being a major leaguer can be a tough job sometimes; unfortunately, this is a results-oriented business. Another MLB team could potentially pick the former All-Star up, of course. But for right now, a struggling 2023 continues for Myers, much to his dismay. Best of luck as he tries to navigate new waters.
Myers is a career .252/.326/.437 hitter with an average OPS of .763 across 11 big league seasons. He’s fallen off a cliff following the 2021 season and has been unable to recover. Hopefully, a change of scenery can provide a spark for Myers.
