If you are a believer in FanGraphs’ DEF valuation for team defense, you’re of the opinion that the Cincinnati Reds were not a good defensive team on the whole in 2023. Their collective -24.6 rating sat 26th among all Major League Baseball teams, and while it was more punitive than many other defensive metrics, they were all mostly in agreement that the glovework was suspect on the banks of the Ohio River.
UZR graded them at -17.7, 23rd overall. UZR/150 was slightly kinder at -2.5, a mark that left them as the 19th ranked unit. OAA (Outs Above Average) marked them down as the second worst unit in the entire game, however, their -36 ranking better than only the Oakland A’s for the season.