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Reds Should Take A Chance on Jhonkensy Noel After Guardians DFA
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- Reds Should Take A Chance on Jhonkensy Noel After Guardians DFA
The Cleveland Guardians designated "Big Christmas" for assignment and maybe it's the Reds who could take a swing on the power bat.
A Power Bat Available at a Low Cost
Jhonkensy Noel was sent away by Cleveland after the team ran out of patience with his high strikeout rate, but the 24-year-old still has plenty of upside that could make him worth a flier for Cincinnati .
The Reds finished 83-79 in 2025 and were swept by the Dodgers in the Wild Card round, and they enter this offseason looking for more pop in their lineup while working with a tight budget.
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Noel would cost almost nothing to acquire and carries six home runs and 13 RBI from his 69 games with the Guardians last season, though his .162 batting average and 52 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances are concerning numbers that led to his release.
What Noel Did in 2024
The reason the Reds should consider this move goes back to what Noel showed the year before, when he hit 13 home runs and drove in 28 runs in 67 games while posting a .218 average.
His playoff moment came in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees , when he belted a game-tying two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to keep Cleveland's season alive.
The Guardians went on to win that game in extra innings thanks to David Fry 's walk-off blast.
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That clutch swing showed the kind of raw power Noel possesses, and it remains his calling card despite the struggles that followed in 2025.
Cincinnati's Need for Power
The Reds ranked 14th in MLB with 4.42 runs per game last season, which is not good enough for a team that plays in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball.
They have been linked to bigger names like Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso this winter, but those players will cost far more than what Cincinnati seems willing to spend.
First base remains an unsettled position with Spencer Steer and prospect Sal Stewart both in the mix, and adding Noel would give manager Terry Francona another right-handed option who can play first base or a corner outfield spot.
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The Risk and the Reward
The Reds already have similar lottery tickets on their roster in Rece Hinds and Christian Encarnacion-Strand , both of whom have power but have also struggled to make consistent contact at the big league level.
Adding Noel to that group would give Cincinnati three swings at finding a breakout slugger without spending any real money, and sometimes that approach pays off in a big way.
Noel is still young and has shown he can hit left-handed pitching at a decent clip throughout his career, which could make him useful in a platoon role even if he never figures out how to lay off breaking balls in the dirt.
The Guardians have until December 24 to either trade Noel or place him on waivers, and if he clears, the Reds could scoop him up for nothing and see if a change of scenery helps unlock his potential.
