The Reds are the hottest team in the game. They have a few veterans that could be shipped away to other contenders before the trade deadline.
Typically, at the MLB Trade Deadline, there are sellers and buyers. Sellers are usually rebuilding teams that have older players to trade to a contending team to help that team make a playoff push. Buyers are usually teams that have good rosters but need to add a few pieces to their roster, usually at the price of some prospects.
Somehow, the Cincinnati Reds have found themselves as buyers and sellers at this year's trade deadline. They have a super-talented roster, and they are a few pieces away from being a World Series contender. But they have valuable pieces that would be more valuable to another team.
These three veteran players could find themselves dealt to another contender before the trade deadline.
Reds Rumors: 3 trades to make with other contenders
3. The Reds should trade C Luke Maile to the Marlins
Almost every MLB team is lacking solid catching depth. The Reds don't have this problem. They have a young catcher in Tyler Stephenson, who they see as the backstop of their future. They have a veteran backstop in Curt Casali, who the pitching staff, namely Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, have taken a keen liking to. Then they have Luke Maile, who has probably been their most well-rounded catcher in 2023.
But with Stephenson's value and Casali's importance to the pitching staff, Maile may be dealt before the trade deadline. The Marlins would be the perfect place to send him, as their backup catcher, Jacob Stallings, has been unplayable this year.
Stallings is having a much worse year than Maile and is lacking the veteran experience it would take to help lead the Marlins young pitching staff. One of the most underrated features of a catcher is their leadership. This becomes even more important when your pitching staff is filled with young flame throwers like the Marlins have.
The Marlins are looking to make a playoff push and the cost of Luke Maile wouldn't be out of their budget. They could absolutely make a realistic deal with the Reds to acquire their veteran backstop.
2. The Reds should trade SS Kevin Newman to the Angels
Kevin Newman has been the center of Reds trade rumors for the majority of this year. His role on the team began as splitting time at shortstop with Jose Barrero but has since changed to being a utility man that only hits against left-handed pitching.
Newman is playing very well in 2023, especially against left-handed pitching, but the Reds can't find a spot for him in the lineup for most days. Their infield is just too loaded. With top prospects Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Noelvi Marte also playing the infield, the Reds have no plans with Newman in their future.
But his versatility and ability to hit lefties makes him valuable to contending teams, if the Reds decide to deal him. The Angels would be a perfect landing spot for him. As of today, the Angels' top two shortstops, Zach Neto and Gio Urshela, sit on the IL. Urshela is set to miss the rest of the season now, too.
Newman would be a perfect fill-in for the Angels until Neto returns, as he is their shortstop of the future. After Neto returns, Newman still holds value, as he has played first, second and third for the Reds this year, making him a possible defensive replacement or platoon player for the Angels. The Angels need to win every game possible, so the trade for Newman could help push them toward October.
1. The Reds should send RHP Fernando Cruz to the Dodgers
The Reds have one of the best and most depended-on bullpens in the MLB. They have seen almost every bullpen arm compete and deal quality innings this season. But, they will likely be active on the trade market, looking to improve their bullpen, despite how good it has been this year.
They still need to add a lefty and a high-leverage reliever to the backend of their bullpen. This could mean the Reds could shop Fernando Cruz the same way they shopped Joel Kuhnel.
Enter the Dodgers. The Dodgers are one of the best teams in the MLB, but they have the second-worst bullpen in terms of ERA (5.01 bullpen ERA). They will absolutely be adding bullpen arms before the deadline, with the quality of them being higher than Cruz for the most part. But, they could still take a flier on Cruz in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. The Astros recently acquired Reds reliever Joel Kuhnel in a similar deal to what the Dodgers could do.
Cruz hasn't been spectacular this year, but he does have a wipeout splitter and has shown good signs of potential. Cruz is a guy that likely won't have a spot with the Reds after they make bullpen acquisitions, so the Reds would be better off getting something in return for him, likely to a contender.
