Cincinnati Reds claim 1B/OF Jordan Patterson from New York Mets

Up top there is a picture of 1B/OF Jordan Patterson wearing a Colorado Rockies uniform. The headline, though, says the Cincinnati Reds claimed him off waivers from the New York Mets, which is admittedly confusing. To clear things up a bit, just know that there are no photos of Patterson in a Mets uniform, since he spent a grand total of two days on the Mets roster, as they just claimed him from Colorado on Tuesday.

Today, Patterson’s changing teams again, as the Reds became the second team to claim him this week.

Patterson, 26, has hit a lot of dingers in his professional career, though every single one of them has come in the minor leagues. He did manage a 19 game cameo with the Rockies back in 2016, but has otherwise plied his trade with AAA Albuquerque, mashing 26 Pacific Coast League dingers in each of the last two seasons. There’s a strong sense that’s the level where his true talent will peak, but he certainly adds some slugging depth to the Reds.

Interestingly enough, Patterson is a product of the University of South Alabama, where he was plucked by the Rockies in the 4th round back in 2013. Know who else is a University of South Alabama product? New Reds hitting coach Turner Ward.

If it feels like the Reds make moves like this every year, you’re not wrong. The likes of Christian Walker and Richie Shaffer were claimed in similar moves in previous years, only to eventually move on as they become roster fodder. By this point in their careers, these guys are on the fringe of being able to elect minor league free agency, are out of options, or both, and teams generally will try to claim them, pass them through waivers, and keep them in the system as a non-rostered guy, which is what I’m assuming the Reds are doing since their roster now sits at a full 40 players ahead of December’s Rule 5 Draft.

It’s likely a non-newsy move, as were the ones that landed Walker and Shaffer in prior editions. Sometimes, though, the on-paper version of these AAAA sluggers turn into diamonds in the rough, like the Los Angeles Dodgers found with Max Muncy just this year. Those are some really, ridiculously long odds, though.