Cincinnati Reds’ Jose Peraza is ready to be an everyday MLB player

After trading away Brandon Phillips to make room, the Cincinnati Reds are confident that Jose Peraza is ready to be an everyday player.

When the Cincinnati Reds traded away Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox throwing in the white flag, the key piece coming back was Jose Peraza.  A year later and the Reds desperately needed somewhere for him to play everyday.  They responded by trading franchise cornerstone second baseman Brandon Phillips to his hometown Atlanta Braves.

In opening up second base the Reds announced  that Peraza was in Cincinnati to stay.  Prior to that the Peraza was listed on the depth chart at as many as seven different positions.  Now he is listed at three, including as the starter at second.

With the trade of Phillips the Reds needed to reload their bench.  They responded by claiming experienced prospects Arismendy Alcantara and Patrick Kivlehan to be the lead players off of the bench.  They also needed to find someone to start when the regulars needed an off day.

Want your voice heard? Join the Blog Red Machine team!

Write for us!

Heading into spring, Alcantara’s flexibility gave the lead to outfield prospect Jesse Winker.  Then former Milwaukee Brewer second baseman Scooter Gennett came in and Winker left for Louisville.  Now there is question whether Peraza will move to shortstop once the Reds trade Zack Cozart later this season.

While Jose Peraza appears to be the temporary solution at second base, the Cincinnati Reds have three defensive specialists waiting for a chance to start at shortstop if  Peraza stays at second.

More from Reds News

• Reds: Signing Tyler Mahle to a contract extension should be a top priority
• Reds: Reiver Sanmartin should get first major league start vs Pirates
• Reds should unquestionably bring Wade Miley back in 2022
• Reds: TJ Friedl’s fast start will earn him opportunities in 2022
• Reds: 3 September surprises who’ve improved their 2022 roster hopes

Zach Vincej entered spring thinking he had the best chance to make the Reds as a defensive shortstop.  He was the starting shortstop at Double-A Pensacola.  Vincej followed that up with an impressive offensive season in the Arizona Fall League.  He is currently playing at Triple-A Louisville.

The player that may have ended up playing his way into the Reds’ plans is Blake Trahan.  Trahan ranks higher than Vincej as a prospect, but is a year behind him in development.  Trying to make the jump from Double-A to the big leagues is tough.  Trahan may need to tear the cover off of the ball just to have that chance.

Then there is the former best defensive shortstop in Cuba, Alfredo Rodriguez.  He plays the best defense of the three.  Rodriguez also currently seems to hit the least.  He could play defensively at the MLB level right now.  However, he may never be able to hit at that level.

Next: The Cincinnati Reds are fans of Hernan Iribarren

Meanwhile, Peraza is ready to play everyday.  These defensive specialists may keep him at second.  He could also return to the outfield if Billy Hamilton ends up elsewhere.  Wherever he ends up playing long-term it needs to be everyday.  This Reds team needs his speed and OBP.