The Reds are “open to adding a controllable hitter” this summer, according to a recent report from MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link).
This bit of scuttlebutt seems mostly to reflect a few self-evident realities about the Cincinnati org’s situation. The Reds have steadily moved back into plausible contention in the National League Central and the NL Wild Card race. The club’s pitching staff has generally performed admirably while its bats have been surprisingly silent. Looking up and down the 2019 stat sheet, you’ll find a whole lot of average or worse hitters on this Cincinnati club.
Doing the math … Quite a few obstacles still separate the team from the postseason, so a present-and-future move would arguably be most sensible. Outwardly, at least, the lineup is an area for improvement. x+y = “controllable hitter.”
But does that really tell us anything about how the Reds will actually approach the deadline? For one thing, there’s still ample uncertainty in the team’s actual competitive position. It’s not hard at all to imagine the club slipping into the status of a rental seller, or stepping up to be a clear rental buyer. The Reds already invested in a series of one-year assets over the winter, so why wouldn’t they consider more if they are in relatively strong position come late July? Even if the club won’t go wild for the best rental pieces, it could certainly see value in some added relief depth and bench bats that make for nice platoon fits.
Neither is the area of need fixed in stone. Entering the year, the questions were in the pitching staff; some may yet arise. While Alex Wood has been sidelined (he’s now on the road back), the team has been quite fortunate to sport a five-man rotation unit that has taken all but one of the team’s starts and performed beyond expectations. The bullpen has been excellent but isn’t without potential questions of its own. Meanwhile, the talented slate of hitters may — some might argue, probably will — get things going in earnest. Rental bat Yasiel Puig is doing just that. Ditto Joey Votto, Jesse Winker, and Nick Senzel, each of whom joined Derek Dietrich in posting a strong past thirty days at the plate. (That includes Dietrich’s late-May burst; he has slumped of late.) Let’s not forget that Scooter Gennett is now on a rehab assignment, too.
It isn’t entirely obvious what position would best be targeted, either. You could say catcher, but good luck finding a quality, controllable bat in that spot. The outfield is far from perfect, but it looks increasingly accounted for with Puig and Winker hitting alongside Senzel. With Gennett’s return, Dietrich may need to find more of his opportunities on the grass. The left side of the infield isn’t exactly mashing, but Eugenio Suarez is a fixture at third and Jose Iglesias has provided excellent value at shortstop.
It’s always worth paying attention to indications of a team’s own assessment of its needs. But this particular early signal seems a bit too vague to have all that much informational value in divining the shape of the summer trade market. The Reds are certainly an interesting team to watch. They may well end up in a sort of opportunistic hold position, standing pat with most current MLB assets while exploring the addition of a controllable hitter at some position or another. But it seems just as likely that the club will end up simply selling a few of its pending free agents or buying a couple of veteran bench pieces.
lowtalker1
Good thing thing the padres got bats!
jkoch717
Serious question: could they blow away the Giants and land Posey?
petfoodfella
Why would they want to? This isn’t the Posey of 2015
gmenfan
I dont think it would take being blown away to land Posey. With Bart waiting in the wings and Posey’s steep offensive decline, that’s a contract that the Giants would be very motivated to move.
This will be an interesting trade deadline for SF. Is this more old regime thinking where they hold onto the nostalgia of 2010-2014 or does the new regime distance itself from that era by cutting ties and building a new future.
racosun
Yes, easily.
snotrocket
You can have him for free.
redsfan48
Honestly, give them Barnhart, a prospect in the back half of our top-10, and take on the rest of Posey’s contract and the Giants would probably do that with no questions asked. I’d be all for this type of deal
votto4mvp 2
Nooooo. Posey is a shell of his former self.
realgone2
They can probably get Duvall back
jdgoat
Trey Mancini straight up for Taylor Trammel? Who says no?
oriole
Reds hang up the phone immediately
FromTheCheapSeats
Reds say “No.” However, if I were running the team, I’d make that deal.
thegreatcerealfamine
Anybody with a brain. Terrible trade proposal JD.
Will Glover
Reds – Yankees. Clint Frazier + Prospects for Luis Castillo
jdgoat
Keep dreaming lol. They’re trying to contend so they make a lateral at best move and trade a controllable starter who is also their best pitcher?
FromTheCheapSeats
That’s ridiculous. Frazier is JAG. Castillo is a legit ace with five years of control left. Pass.
Bocephus
Typical Yankees fan. lofl
JamesBrian14
No way the Reds move Castillo. In a hear or 2 he could be the best pitcher in the NL.
Ketch
Maybe Frazier for a very flippable Jonathan India?
redsfan48
I’d be willing to do Frazier for India from a Reds’ perspective
titanic struggle
Put the bong down…
jorge78
LOL!
DarkSide830
no way in hell, heaven, or anywhere else.
JamesBrian14
Must be a Yankee fan – days of fleecing the Reds are OVER!
thegreatcerealfamine
Since when?
Wahoo What a Finish!
So are about 20 other teams… why is this news?
gray
Exactly!
osfandan
Sounds like the Orioles need to cook up a Mancini+Severino special!
WrongVerb
What would the Orioles want in return for that package?
mizzourah87
Merrifield for India and Richardson
Drew Waters Bat
Wonder if they want Adam Duvall back? Hitting a lot better in AAA than he every did for the Braves. He’s not a free agent til after 2021 isn’t is? Its probably 2020. Young, controllable, big bat, you already have a relationship with the player. Checks a lot of boxes including a defensive outfielder with pop.
joeshmoe11
Why would they do that? HR or nothing, zero on base skills. Hard pass, even if deal for cash considerations only
joeshmoe11
Also, he’ll be 31 by season’s end. Young??!?
Drew Waters Bat
Oops…er younger.
bigredsfan41017
They don’t want Duvall back
DockEllisDee
Why. Why do people keep bringing up his name in trade scenarios? Is this some subtle trolling trying to create a meme? He’s a good dude but not compatible with any team I can think of right now
Melchez
Isn’t every team “open to acquiring a controllable hitter”?
DarkSide830
its about how serious they want and are willing to pay for such players.
vacommish
Inciarte for Iglesias. Inciarte is affordable and a genuine CF and a + defender. Braves need a closer.
24TheKid
Now that is a terrible trade proposal.
Senioreditor
Ditto
JamesBrian14
Move on Braves – nothing available here.
its_happening
Randal Grichuk. Please.
Lou Holtz
Chris Davis would look great as a Red
ekrog
No, the Reds are looking for a hitter.
DarkSide830
maybe he can become their manager
Ketch
When Gennett comes back, Dietrich move to the OF, I assume. With Senzel and Puig out there and Winker pushing for a job, where will this controllable hitter play this year? Catcher? Who has a controllable hitting catcher to deal? They’re certainly not trying to replace Suarez or Votto.
I suppose the Reds could try to pawn Puig off on another team…
hiflew
Maybe one of the Padres catchers? Austin Hedges might benefit from getting out of Petco and playing in GABP. And I doubt he would cost THAT much.
Hedges and a reliever for Cody Reed and Curt Casali?
jbigz12
Controllable bat doesn’t strike me as Austin Hedges…..
padreforlife
Sure that’s what they need catcher who can’t hit in Hedges
ekrog
And trading him for one who can hit (Casali)??
jorge78
Controllable glove?
DarkSide830
controllable mediocrity
bigredsfan41017
We don’t need catching
JamesBrian14
Man, are there some simply moronic trade proposals listed. (Note to fans of other teams – Reds not door mats any more)
hiflew
All of the proposals seem better than yours. Oh wait, you didn’t offer one, you just offered unsolicited criticism without any reason. Seems much easier to do than actually offering meaningful insight to a conversation. Good luck with that.
redsfan48
Reds wouldn’t have interest in downgrading the position, I think Casali is better than Hedges. They may well have interest in Francisco Mejia if he was made available and they believe he can play passable catcher defense.
spudchukar
Another bull pen arm would probably be a better direction for the Reds. Who would they replace in the outfield? They just need the guys they have to produce.
ksoze
I am open to replacing Puig, but it has to be for a clear upgrade. Otherwise I’d stand pat, and see how the team continues to develop.
threed75
How about Austin Meadows from the Tampa Bay Rays?
spudchukar
Fat chance. Why would the Rays be interested in moving their controllable All-Star? For whom?
bjupton100
Maybe as part of a deal for Castillo. Meadows and Robertson/Wendle wouldn’t be far off in terms of value. I don’t know much about the Reds starter but would like to add Amir Garrett. Those two for all three with the Reds sending Gennett, Dietrich (a former Ray), Puig, Roark, Iglesias and Suarez. They should have started a full blown rebuild when they traded Chapman, and should have definitely got a better return on Chapman. It would be crazy for Meadows and Frazier to end up on the same team.
ekrog
The Reds are trying to add a controllable bat to help them win now. Trading away their ace doesn’t fit.
ldboyle
I know this is a troll job, but trading Chapman WAS part of a full-blown rebuild, ya dingus…Votto and Barnhart are literally the only MLB guys left from the team before the rebuild started at the end of 2014.
JamesBrian14
Votto, Puig and Winker are finally beginning to hit (see their June stats) – those 3 have been the key to the season – along with Gennett coming back. Sign Iggy II to a 3 year extension and the Reds should be ready for the 2nd half. .
titanic struggle
I doubt they’ll be very aggressive if they keep playing good ball like they have been. Adding Gennett and Wood alone will be big. Why give something up if you don’t have to? The next six weeks will tell their story, but I’ve thought all along this team is better than what most people think, and certainly better than the way they performed prior to this little winning streak. They have chemistry, something I haven’t seen from a Reds team in many years.
spudchukar
Agree. I know as a Cards’ fan I am not looking forward to playing them. And their current improvement is no surprise to me. The only surprising thing has been their offense to date. Not sure if their “chemistry” is on the atomic or molecular level, but my guess is they will stay in contention for a good while. So please Reds’ fans go see this team play. The paltry attendance hasn’t improved enough to match the teams’ play.
JamesBrian14
This year the Reds are definitely a fun team to watch. So yes, watching Reds-Cards this summer is very reminiscent of years gone by. Should be a lot of fun this summer.
titanic struggle
Absolutely…go see them play…thanks for adding that!!
CrewBrew
{insert team} is open to adding controllable hitter. Next article will be “Yankees open to winning title this year”
rediceten
Sonny Gray for Clint Frazier?
TradeBait
I’m interested in seeing what they do with Wood and the odd man out of the current SP’s. Wood’s a rental, but if he come in strong they use him for the season to make a run at the playoffs. Do they deal the odd man out or do they ship to Louisville? With position players I’m not seeing who could be dealt that could add to what they have enough to justify it.
titanic struggle
My guess is Mahle to AAA, even though he pitched a gem the other day. They’ll want to keep him stretched out, plus he has options. Once backup to have though…
DockEllisDee
CASTILLO ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE YOU BUNCH OF MOUTH BREATHERS these are some of the worst trade proposals I’ve seen here in a while, in response to a “water is wet” type article
deanjr88
Y’all can have Duvall back! He’s hitting good in AAA and no room for him in Atlanta!
pjmcnu
In other news, the remaining 29 teams are also open to adding cheap, controllable hitters. I added the cheap because…well, the Reds.
Jason Hall
I don’t see them doing anything at the trade deadline, unless they completely fall apart the next month. Getting Wood and Scooter back is like adding 2 solid additions at the deadline already.
iceman35pilot
The Reds dugout and front office don’t have close to the talent to make them a contender anytime in the near or distant future.