The Cincinnati Reds aren’t good, we all know that. So what does the future entail for the Redlegs? Let’s dive into some possibilities.
Cincinnati Reds Trade Deadline Blues
Trade Zack Cozart
Zack Cozart is a having a career year. His slash line is .317/.402/.568 with 48 runs, 12 home runs, and 39 RBI. This is a contract year for Cozy, so why not trade him at peak value? Sure, he’s 32-years-old and has had a knee surgery, but that hasn’t hampered him at all really. Minus a short 10-day stint on the DL because of a quad strain, he’s stayed healthy and been one of the best shortstops in baseball this year. Both with the bat and the glove Cozy has been great.
The Reds could move Cozart to a contender in need, like the Houston Astros, who will be without Carlos Correa for 6-8 weeks. Or they could move him to a team on the bubble in a tight race, like the Tampa Bay Rays. Dick Williams, the owner of the Reds, admitted the possibility of re-signing Cozart was bleak for the Reds. So why not get some good prospects in return for a good shortstop? Cincy has until the 31st of July for the non-waiver trade deadline.
Trade Scott Schebler, Call Up Jesse Winker
This is an interesting position for the Reds to be in because of the production they’ve gotten from Scott Schebler. Schebler is basically Jay Bruce, a big hulking lefty who struggles with the strikeout, but has a lot of power. Schebler is still very young as well, so the patience will come with experience.
Paired with that trade would be the call-up of Jesse Winker from Triple-A Louisville. Winker is the better option in the outfield and fans would much rather see the trio of Adam Duvall, Billy Hamilton, and Winker rather than Schebler, Hamilton, Duvall. Schebler could bag some good prospects or even pitching help because he’s so young.
Trade Drew Storen and Scott Feldman
Cincy could also go the route of trading old arms for young ones. Everyone knows that the Reds need pitching, and desperately. So Scott Feldman (7-7, 4.34 ERA) and Drew Storen (2-2, 3.24 ERA) could be packaged together to get either immediate pitching help or some promising pitching prospects. With a league worst ERA of +5.50 for the starting staff, they’re the main reason that the bullpen has been overworked, and the Reds have stumbled since their hot start through the beginning of June. Look for teams in contention to add a solid reliever. Even an innings eater like Feldman to help their rosters.
