The Reds announced Wednesday that they have signed first baseman/outfielder Wil Myers to a one-year deal for the 2023 season, with a mutual option for 2024.
Myers, a highly touted prospect who began his career by winning the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Award as a member of the Rays, spent the past eight seasons with the Padres.
He was the club’s longest-tenured player before San Diego declined his $20 million option following the season.
The 32-year old Myers is coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season in which he hit just seven home runs and posted a .713 OPS — his lowest since 2014. He also went just 3-for-29 (.103) with 13 strikeouts in the postseason. Those struggles led to Myers starting just two of the Padres’ five games in their NLCS loss to the Phillies.
Still, Myers is just two seasons removed from a 2020 campaign in which he hit .288 with a career-high .959 OPS en route to receiving a share of NL MVP votes. He was an All-Star in 2016 and hit a career-high 30 homers one year later.
Myers also provides plenty of versatility, having started games at first base and all three outfield positions last season. He even made one appearance at third base and took the mound four times.
Overall, Myers has a .254/.329/.442 (.771 OPS) slash line with 153 home runs over 10 big league seasons between the Rays and Padres.