Pinder, Reds agree to Minor League deal

CINCINNATI -- The Reds on Wednesday reached an agreement with veteran utility player Chad Pinder on a Minor League contract with an invitation to big league camp as a non-roster player.

Pinder, who will be 31 on Opening Day March 29, spent his first seven big league seasons with the A's. A second-round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Pinder has a .242/.294/.417 career slash line (.711 OPS).

A right-handed hitter, Pinder has 62 home runs in 553 career games, which equates to an average of 18 homers per 162 games. He hit 12 home runs in 111 games for the A's last year, while hitting .235 with a .648 OPS.

The Reds have coveted versatile players in recent seasons, and Pinder fits that bill well. During his tenure in the Majors with Oakland, he's appeared at every position on the field except for catcher.

Last season, Pinder played most of his time at the two corner outfield spots, though he also made appearances at first base, second base and third base -- and he even made his pitching debut. He also served as the designated hitter and made 20 pinch-hitting appearances, plus he had previously logged time at shortstop and center field.

Cincinnati currently has a vacancy at third base, with Spencer Steer and Alejo Lopez most likely in the mix as candidates. There are also position battles expected in left field and center field during Spring Training. Jake Fraley, Nick Senzel, TJ Friedl, Nick Solak and Stuart Fairchild are among the outfielders in the competition.

The Reds may not be done adding players. A source told MLB.com that they are also looking for a lefty-hitting infielder to compete for a roster spot.