Cincinnati Reds FanSided Simulation Trade #4 – The Flip

After acquiring Ariel Miranda from the Seattle Mariners for the Cincinnati Reds in the FanSided Winter Meetings Simulation, we traded him, too.

Ariel Miranda was a throw-in for Eugenio Suarez from the Seattle Mariners for the Cincinnati Reds.  The Reds accepted him because they may need a number five starter.  In the end he was taking a roster spot and the Reds don’t need him in 2018.

Originally, it looked Miranda would hang around.  Then a weird series of occurrences came to fruition.  It all started with Jacoby Ellsbury.

There was almost a weird four way deal including the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Cincinnati Reds.  It was possible because the Reds had saved enough money in the simulation by trading Suarez, Billy Hamilton, and Devin Mesoraco to afford practically anyone for one season.  Ellsbury didn’t pan out because, ultimately, the Mets didn’t want to send prospects to the Reds for Duvall.

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With the seal broken on the idea of trading Miranda, though, he became a shopped man.  The Reds had a need for a back-up infielder, preferably one that could pinch hit.  The Tampa Bay Rays were the team that stepped up to the plate to get Miranda.

The Cincinnati Reds traded starting pitcher Ariel Miranda for infielder Brad Miller of the Tampa Bay Rays.

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The deal was made because the Reds had no infield depth after trading Eugenio Suarez earlier in the simulation.  Gold Glove finalist left fielder Adam Duvall was also the only true back-up first baseman on the roster.  Brad Miller is a bona fide second baseman that can also play left field, first base and shortstop competently that was barely tendered this off-season.

Miller is a .238 career hitter.  He has 68 home runs over 2,251 play appearances.  In other words as an everyday player Miller is good for 15-20 home runs.

For the Reds Miller becomes a back-up infielder and someone the Reds could keep or flip.  He’s younger than Duvall and the same age as the starting third baseman for the Reds in this simulation, Scooter Gennett.

Miller is also likely to make less money than Hamilton this year, making him an ideal bench player.  He also is an insurance policy against Dilson Herrera not being ready to start everyday.  Basically, he checks all of the boxes.

Next: FanSided Winter Meetings Simulation - Trading Devin Mesoraco

With all of the trades complete, free agency is up next.  The Reds don’t have much of a budget or too many needs.  There is still a hole at starting shortstop.