Bats Rack: Who Goes, Who Stays, Who Trades?

We’re about a month and a half away from the MLB trade deadline. And with the big league club struggling, everybody is looking for a solution. Do we trade? Do we call-up? Do we send down? Are we just simply doomed? One trade rumor was recently

discussed on this blog.

Well, why I’m no genius on what the trade market will be like (nor do I really care, I happen to be one who thinks the Reds are good enough as is), I do know this: Whoever the Reds want, they can get. Their system is loaded with guys who other teams would love to have. If they package the right number (so long as the price isn’t too high), the Reds can who they want from whichever team they want. Let’s run down this list of players the Reds could use to bring that big missing piece of the puzzle to Cincy.

Zack Cozart
Cozart’s abysmal line in April (.225/.278/.337 1 HR 7 RBI) would normally make any team turn away…quickly. But a hot May (.337/.374/.533 3 HR 9 RBI) and an even hotter start to June (.463/.491/.704 2 HR 9 RBI), has Cozart’s stats for the season (.323/.364/.498 6 HR 25 RBI) looking stellar. Add in the fact that his defensive prowess at shortstop is as good as they come and Cozart is definitely a prospect not only to trade, but to get the big league call.

Devin Mesoraco
Devin has had a stellar 2011 campaign thus far. He’s in the top ten in the International League in AVG (4^th, .328), OBP (2^nd, .409), SLG (2^nd, .562), RBI (8^th, 39), and 2B (T-2^nd, 21). Mesoraco, who is under the tutelage of former catcher (and skipper) Rick Sweet and veteran Corky Miller, is coming into his own behind the plate. His throws to second are errant on occasion, but his ability to call a game and earn the trust of whomever may be pitching is becoming much better. Mesoraco would be a good spell to either Ramon Hernandez or Ryan Hanigan in Cincinnati, or could be a big part of trade to lure a big name to the Queen City.

Yonder Alonso
Alonso has had hot and cold spells this season. Overall, his numbers are good. This year Alonso has a line of .315/.372/.504 8 HR, 38 RBI, 17 2B, and 2 3B. The biggest reason Yonder is not wearing Red is because his only road to the show is in LF. And he hasn’t exactly been good out there—though he is getting much better. He’s beginning to get to more balls that he wasn’t previously getting to, and is reading the ball off the bat much better than before. If he continues to progress the way he is now, it’s only a matter of time before the Reds move him up. They could also make a big trade for a #1 starter and use Alonso as the cornerstone of such a trade. 

Dave Sappelt
It’s well documented how good Sappelt’s bat has become. But the fact and the matter is this: Drew Stubbs is going to be roaming the center field grass of Great American Ball Park for the foreseeable future. With that said, the odds of Sappelt getting the call seem rather bleak. So, why not trade a guy who tore the cover off the ball in Spring Training and commenced to hitting .341/.417/.588 with 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 2B, and 1 3B in just 23 games in April before suffering a strained oblique? It makes sense for the Reds to at least shop him around and gauge interest. Also, Sappelt is stellar defensively, to say the least. You don’t often see guys like Sappelt and Stubbs make a diving catch because they don’t HAVE to. They’re simply THAT fast.

Some other names the Reds could add into a deal are Danny Dorn, Todd Frazier, Jeremy Hermida, and Chris Valaika.

Look, I am by no means suggesting the Reds trade any of these guys. I am simply putting this fact out there: If the Reds wanted/needed to make a move come July 31 that could/would put them over the top in the division race, they have plenty of prospects to package together to make the deal happen. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do we trade? Do we call up? Do we send down? Are we simply doomed? Are we good as is? Let’s hope the brass make the right call.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @kevingeary10 and BRM @blogredmachine.