Reds named best landing spot for reunion with ex-Mets All-Star outfielder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Reds are 7-3 this season, just one win behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central. But, there is one major issue the Reds need to fix, and ASAP: their runs scored.

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So far, they’ve only scored 28 runs this season, which is the worst mark in the Major Leagues, and the only team yet to score 30 runs this season. To fix things, the Reds could sign a free agent for a bit of help.

That’s why Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer named the Reds as the best free agent landing spot for former Reds and New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker.

Reds named bets landing spot for Jesse Winker

“Best Landing Spot: Cincinnati Reds,” Rymer writes. “Winker could platoon with Eugenio Suarez at DH and Spencer Steer in left, and hopefully do some mashing at Great American Ball Park.”

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The Reds’ league-worst offense needs some juice. While Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, and the other sluggers on the roster are good enough to hit well, they just need a bit of help.

That’s where someone like Winker, who can be a solid hitter for the Reds at either designated hitter or in the outfield.

Last season for the Mets, Winker posted a .229 batting average with a .709 OPS. Not a great season, but it might’ve been just a down year.

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If he could get back to his 2024 production, when he had a .764 OPS with 14 home runs and 109 hits in 145 games played with 430 at-bats, then he’d be a perfectly fine signing for the Reds.

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The offense needs a bit more of a spark, especially with Ke’Bryan Hayes hitting .115, Matt McLain hitting .215, Steer hitting .188, TJ Friedl hitting .147, and Eugenio Suarez hitting .211.

Cincinnati needs these hitters to turn things around, but they also need to be proactive and add some offensive help this season.

And Winker, a hitter who has a .261 career batting average with an .802 OPS and was once an All-Star with the Reds, would be a great option.

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