Cincinnati Reds fail at July deadline as Drew Storen is still around

The Cincinnati Reds missed out on trading Zack Cozart and Drew Storen over the month of July.

With the activation of Zack Cozart from the DL, the Cincinnati Reds have a chance to correct what has been an awful trading season for the team.  Cozart was hot commodity prior to the All-Star Game, but the Reds held onto him. They wanted him to play the ASG as a Red and to be around for the Donkey Game.  Prior to the announcement of the Donkey Game, Cozart was on his way out the door.

Then Cozart got injured.  He ended up staying with the Reds.  That doesn’t justify the poor decision making by the team when the Reds should have traded away the All-Star for maximum return.

Meanwhile, the healthy and efficient reliever, Drew Storen also stayed with the team.  For a sense of lost opportunity, the Cleveland Indians sent two prospects, including Thomas Pannone to the Toronto Blue Jays for Joe Smith.  Pannone is the 21st ranked prospect for the Blue Jays as a left-handed starter in Double-A.

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That is something the Reds could use.  Storen and Smith are both right-handers who signed $3-million single year contracts over the off-season.  Storen has a 3.00 ERA and six holds, while Smith has a 3.05 and five holds.

That is the missed opportunity for the Reds.  A pitcher just like Storen netted a left-handed starting pitching prospect and another player.  The Reds instead have a pitcher that doesn’t fit into their future plans.

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The Cincinnati Reds did make a trade prior to the deadline, but what they got back isn’t exactly a prospect.

The Reds did trade left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  In return they received outfielder Scott Van Slyke and catching prospect Hendrik Clementina.  Clementina is in his fourth season of rookie ball and Van Slyke is going to make $1.3-million to play everyday in Louisville.

That was the Reds’ big move.

They didn’t make an attempt at moving Joey Votto to clear salary room.  Devin Mesoraco didn’t leave via a trade and injured his knee.

There is no excuse for not moving Storen and no reason to move Cingrani.  Cingrani was their back-up closer last season and with Michael Lorenzen returning to the rotation the Reds may need one for next season.

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Whatever, happens during the off-season, the Reds need to get Storen and Cozart through revocable waivers to see what the team could get in return.  Neither player will be back in 2018.  Frankly, neither of them should be with the team now.