Cincinnati Reds Rumors – an early season look at who could be headed where this season

The Cincinnati Reds will be trading away veterans by July 1, unless they do the improbable and compete this season.

In order for the Cincinnati Reds to not be aggressively selling before mid-season they will need to be in the middle of the Wild Card race in the National League.  They would need to be within three games on July 1st.  If that were to happen then the Reds may be buyers this season.

The Reds would be in the market for relief pitching in all likelihood, if they were suddenly in the race.  They like Barrett Astin and Wandy Peralta, but would be looking to upgrade for a playoff run.  That is not a likely scenario, however.

What is more likely is that the Reds will be looking to move their expendable veterans.  The first name on that list is Zack Cozart, the Reds’ starting shortstop, whose replacement is starting at second base right now in Jose Peraza.  Cozart has been on the trading block in some form since 2014.  The next most likely person to be traded before the August 1st deadline is Drew Storen.  He is an awkward fit in a bullpen anchored by young, elite prospects in Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen.

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The other player that will likely be traded to a playoff contender is Opening Day starting pitcher Scott Feldman.  Depending on how he has pitched, he could be traded as a starter or a reliever.  Of course, health is important for all three players.

It is possible for the Cincinnati Reds to predict where Zack Cozart, Drew Storen, and Scott Feldman may be headed.

Cozart is likely headed to either the Cleveland Indians or the Detroit Tigers as a back-up middle infielder.

The Tigers need defensive help every where on the infield and the Indians have health issues at both second and third base.  Given the all-in attitude in Cleveland, it wouldn’t be too far out of line to expect back someone like #8 prospect, defensive shortstop Erik Gonzalez.

Storen, on the other hand, is likely going to stay in the National League.  As a Washington National, he looked great before heading to the American League last season.  The Nationals would be a logical landing place for Storen in exchange for someone like former top prospect turned disappointment in AJ Cole.

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Feldman projects as a number five starter or low leverage reliever for an AL team once his Reds’ time is up.  A return to Houston where he was highly successful would make a ton of sense.  They also have 20-year old, lefty Cuban Cionel Perez, which is the exact type of player that the Reds like to acquire.