\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"It’s not just an opportunity to play, however. It’s an opportunity to play shortstop on a team with a rather glaring vacancy. Strange-Gordon came up as a shortstop for the Dodgers, but he hasn’t played the position full time since 2013.\n\nIn 2014, Strange-Gordon transitioned to second base for Los Angeles and played the same position with the Marlins from '15-17. With the Mariners from '18-20, he was a utility player with only 11 starts at shortstop over the last three seasons and just two starts last season.\n\n“I played second base because that was the only way I could get to the big leagues at the time with the Dodgers,” Strange-Gordon said. “It was the only way I could break in and solidify myself as a big leaguer. \\[Shortstop\\] has always been my position. I’m just happy to finally get to play it or get the opportunity to play it.”\n\n• Spring Training information | FAQ\n\nStrange-Gordon, who turns 33 in April, will earn a base salary of $1 million this season if he makes the club out of camp.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2021-02-08T21:25:33.499Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-02/08/3ac19e6e-c63daf74-a609edcf-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Reds general manager Nick Krall talks about the club signing Dee Strange-Gordon","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:23","slug":"krall-on-signing-strange-gordon","tags":[{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-113","title":"Cincinnati Reds","team":{"__ref":"Team:113"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-543829","title":"Dee Strange-Gordon","person":{"__ref":"Person:543829"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"transactions","title":"transactions","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/bbw6waokg39p0tah7fow"},"title":"Krall on signing Strange-Gordon","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/krall-on-signing-strange-gordon"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":" \n\nThe Reds were unable to sign a free agent or trade for a shortstop after not retaining Freddy Galvis after last season. Prospect Jose Garcia was rushed to the big leagues from Class A Advanced but would benefit from more development back in the Minors. Strange-Gordon, Kyle Farmer, Alex Blandino and Rule 5 draftee Kyle Holder will also get consideration.\n\nStrange-Gordon and Larkin have worked together each winter in Orlando, Fla., for about a decade.\n\n“He's an outstanding young man. He's a family man,” Larkin said last week. “He's highly motivated. He was in a very tough situation this past season with the Seattle Mariners and didn't get much of a chance to play, but had a very positive impact on some of the young players in that organization.\n\n“I think coming from that situation, coming into a situation where there's an open opportunity, I truly think \\[he\\] could play shortstop at the big league level, and be a very good shortstop at the big league level, but he could also play a very good second base at the big league level, a very good center field at the big league level. He's just that kind of athlete.”\n\n• Larkin joining Reds' TV broadcast crew\n\nA two-time All-Star and the Major Leagues’ active steals leader with 333, Strange-Gordon won a batting title and a Silver Slugger Award in 2015 with the Marlins but has not provided much offense recently. In '20 for the Mariners, he batted .200 in 33 games as a part-time player after he batted .275/.304/.359 with 22 steals over 117 games in ’19.\n\nSeattle declined to pick up Strange-Gordon’s $14 million option after last season. He last worked out with Larkin a couple of weeks ago.\n\n“I’ve been working out with Barry since my rookie year, when I was actually still playing shortstop,” Strange-Gordon said. “I’ve been working out with him, exclusively at shortstop with him, the last 9-10 years. Even in the winter, I’m practicing at short, getting ground balls.”","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/dee-strange-gordon-has-shortstop-opportunity-with-reds","contentType":"news","subHeadline":"Reds infielder, Hall of Famer have worked out at position for last decade","summary":"Veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon has had a longtime friendship and offseason working relationship with Reds legend and Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin. But in deciding to sign a Minor League contract with Cincinnati this month, Larkin did not really figure in the equation.\n“I get to play. I’m going","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":null,"tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-113","title":"Cincinnati Reds","team":{"__ref":"Team:113"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-543829","title":"Dee Strange-Gordon","person":{"__ref":"Person:543829"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"ContributorTag","slug":"mark-sheldon","title":"Mark Sheldon","type":"contributor"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"spring-training","title":"Spring Training","type":"taxonomy"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/v1614112977/mlb/zl8hivoeno6t0ubxa3ck","title":"Dee Strange-Gordon has shortstop opportunity with Reds"}},"Team:113":{"__typename":"Team","id":113},"Person:543829":{"__typename":"Person","id":543829},"Person:606157":{"__typename":"Person","id":606157}}}
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Can Strange-Gordon win SS job? Ask Larkin
Can Strange-Gordon win SS job? Ask Larkin
Reds infielder, Hall of Famer have worked out at position for last decade
“I get to play. I’m going to get an opportunity to show what I can do and play baseball. That’s all I wanted,” Strange-Gordon said Tuesday from Reds camp in Goodyear, Ariz.
It’s not just an opportunity to play, however. It’s an opportunity to play shortstop on a team with a rather glaring vacancy. Strange-Gordon came up as a shortstop for the Dodgers, but he hasn’t played the position full time since 2013.
In 2014, Strange-Gordon transitioned to second base for Los Angeles and played the same position with the Marlins from '15-17. With the Mariners from '18-20, he was a utility player with only 11 starts at shortstop over the last three seasons and just two starts last season.
“I played second base because that was the only way I could get to the big leagues at the time with the Dodgers,” Strange-Gordon said. “It was the only way I could break in and solidify myself as a big leaguer. [Shortstop] has always been my position. I’m just happy to finally get to play it or get the opportunity to play it.”
Strange-Gordon, who turns 33 in April, will earn a base salary of $1 million this season if he makes the club out of camp.
The Reds were unable to sign a free agent or trade for a shortstop after not retaining Freddy Galvis after last season. Prospect Jose Garcia was rushed to the big leagues from Class A Advanced but would benefit from more development back in the Minors. Strange-Gordon, Kyle Farmer, Alex Blandino and Rule 5 draftee Kyle Holder will also get consideration.
Strange-Gordon and Larkin have worked together each winter in Orlando, Fla., for about a decade.
“He's an outstanding young man. He's a family man,” Larkin said last week. “He's highly motivated. He was in a very tough situation this past season with the Seattle Mariners and didn't get much of a chance to play, but had a very positive impact on some of the young players in that organization.
“I think coming from that situation, coming into a situation where there's an open opportunity, I truly think [he] could play shortstop at the big league level, and be a very good shortstop at the big league level, but he could also play a very good second base at the big league level, a very good center field at the big league level. He's just that kind of athlete.”
A two-time All-Star and the Major Leagues’ active steals leader with 333, Strange-Gordon won a batting title and a Silver Slugger Award in 2015 with the Marlins but has not provided much offense recently. In '20 for the Mariners, he batted .200 in 33 games as a part-time player after he batted .275/.304/.359 with 22 steals over 117 games in ’19.
Seattle declined to pick up Strange-Gordon’s $14 million option after last season. He last worked out with Larkin a couple of weeks ago.
“I’ve been working out with Barry since my rookie year, when I was actually still playing shortstop,” Strange-Gordon said. “I’ve been working out with him, exclusively at shortstop with him, the last 9-10 years. Even in the winter, I’m practicing at short, getting ground balls.”