CINCINNATI -- The Trade Deadline is at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, so it's really just a day away. The Reds are looking to make improvements in a couple of areas, namely the bullpen and for a hitter who provides power and run production while lengthening the lineup. There is no guarantee anything will happen. It's certainly possible no deals will be made or that a smaller trade will go down. The last time that Cincinnati was in contention, in 2023, president of baseball operations Nick Krall made one Trade Deadline acquisition in reliever Sam Moll from the A's for pitching prospect Joe Boyle. However, Krall was not able to get rotation help that the club sorely needed. The Reds finished two games shy of a postseason berth and have not made the playoffs during a full season since 2013. What might the Reds do between now and the zero hour? Here are some potential names I've heard about the last few days from various sources and my colleagues at MLB.com. |
3B Eugenio Suárez
Arguably the biggest hitter on the market with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs this season for the Diamondbacks, Suárez would definitely provide the power. He's also making $15 million in the final year of his contract ahead of free agency. Suárez, of course, was a star for the Reds from 2015-21. But he's in high demand with interest also from the Tigers, Cubs and Mariners. It's difficult to imagine Cincinnati parting with some of its top prospects for a rental player. If he did come back to the Reds, Noelvi Marte could move to right field and there would still be room for third-base prospect Sal Stewart to get a good look for a big league spot in 2026. |
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
OK, this one actually caught me off guard when I first heard about interest. Hayes has a .676 OPS for his career and is only batting .236 with a .569 OPS and two homers this season for the Pirates. His career high is 15 homers, set in 2023. But the 28-year-old is an elite defender on a very team-friendly contract. His eight-year, $70 million deal runs through 2029, with a $12 million club option for 2030. Hayes could have change-of-scenery upside and perhaps can develop his offensive skills at a more hitter-friendly home field like Great American Ball Park. The return demand might not be too high here. RHPs Jake Bird/Seth Halvorsen
Reds scouts have apparently been looking hard at the Rockies' bullpen. Rebuilding Colorado is in selling mode and both relievers likely come with a steep asking price in return. That's because Bird is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter and under club control for three more seasons. Halvorsen doesn't reach arbitration status until after 2027. The Yankees, Rangers and possibly the Phillies are also interested in Bird, who has a 4.73 ERA in 45 games but has 10.46 strikeouts-per nine innings. |
RHP Sonny Gray
The Reds already have a strong rotation, but adding Gray would open up other possibilities -- such as moving the versatile Nick Martinez or rookie Chase Burns into the bullpen. There are a few obstacles to this potential deal. Gray, 35, is owed $35 million in 2026 with a $30 million club option for 2027 ($5 million buyout). He also has a full no-trade clause. It wouldn't be hard to imagine Gray considering waiving the no-trade to Cincinnati, where he had three good seasons from 2019-21 and made an All-Star Game. Burns (the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball), Stewart (the Reds' No. 2 prospect) and the injured Rhett Lowder (Cinncinati's No. 3 prospect) would seem untouchable for trades, but after that, anything seems possible. |
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STEER IMPRESSING AS FIRST BASEMAN |
One of the under-the-radar stories of this season has been the defensive work of Spencer Steer as the Reds' first baseman. Steer, who played mostly left field last season, moved to first base this season in part due to a right shoulder impingement that bothered him entering Spring Training. In a short amount of time, Steer has become one of the game's best defenders at first base. “He’s playing his [butt] off, I think. I think at first base, he has turned himself into a difference-maker, and it’s through hard work," manager Terry Francona said. Steer entered Wednesday ranked third among primary first basemen in MLB, according to FanGraphs, with 7 defensive runs saved this season. According to Statcast, he is tied for fourth with a fielding run value of 2 and is fifth with 4 outs above average. Could that make Steer a Gold Glove contender this season? “I never know," Francona said. "The fact that you’re asking is a big compliment to him. Sometimes I think that award can be a little bit reputation driven." |
"It’s been fun to watch him just go out there and compete, because he’s got a really bright future and he’s just got to keep going. He’s just going to keep getting better, which is the really cool part.” -- Reds OF/INF Gavin Lux on Burns |
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