Josh Reddick And A’s Come To Terms

The A’s made it official that right fielder Josh Reddick agreed to terms on a new one-year deal with the team. Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Reddick and the Oakland A’s ended having to go to arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for a reported $2.7 million per year, just above the median he was seeking. Reddick was asking for $3.25 million and made $510,000 last year.

The move puts to rest any distraction of arbitration hearings and allows Reddick – and the A’s – to concentrate on spring training and preparing for the 2014 season. The A’s started the year with nine arbitration-eligible players and now have settled all of them. Reddick was the last player on the 40-man roster left without a contract.

The left-handed hitting Reddick was acquired from the Red Sox in December 2011 in the Andrew Bailey–Ryan Sweeney trade. He immediately became the A’s starting right fielder and a fan favorite not only for the right field bleacher crew, but to A’s fans as a whole with his performance in 2012. After being obtained via trade, Reddick became the A’s starting right fielder for 2012 and won a Rawliings Gold Glove for his performance. Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

But Reddick had a slumping 2013 season, battling two stints on the disabled list with a wrist injury and missing 37 games. His batting average dropped to .226 last season Reddick failed to retain the power and run production he had from the previous season production with a meager 12 home runs and 56 RBIs, a drop-off from 32 HRs and 85 RBIs he put up in 2012.

His highlight for the 2013 season was on Aug. 9 when he hit three home runs in a single game for the first time in his career in a 14-6 rout against the Toronto Blue Jays. On the next day, he homered another two times against the Jays. The five HR total in two games tied the Major League record for most home runs in consecutive games. Days later he was back on the DL.

After the 2013 season he underwent surgery and is expected to be 100 percent.
Reddick, who was criticized for missing the A’s Fan Fest last week, showed up four days early to the A’s spring training camp in Arizona, arriving on Saturday, Feb 15.

A Rawlings Gold Glove winner for 2012, Reddick shows he has defensive talent to go with power when he is healthy. The $2.7 million deal is fair. For a big payday, Reddick is going to have to revert to his 2012 stats.