Cincinnati Reds Rumors – Starting pitchers that could be trade targets

The Cincinnati Reds are well positioned to add a veteran starter via trade

The Cincinnati Reds appear set in the starting rotation.  General manager Dick Williams has said they want to add another starting pitcher via free agency.  Here is a look at the pitchers that they could trade for, if the free agent market doesn’t pan out.

The first pitcher that is a possibility is former Red Johnny Cueto.  The Reds are already in trade discussions with the San Francisco Giants for Billy Hamilton.  The difficulty here is that both teams are trying to keep their salary close to static.

Matt Harvey of the New York Mets is another available pitcher.   The Mets are looking for someone to pair with Juan Lagares in center field, so Hamilton once again makes sense.  For the Reds, though, Harvey’s health history looks too much like that of Homer Bailey.

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Both of those pitchers  cost a lot and are high profile, but Jake Odorizzi of the Tampa Bay Rays makes more sense.  The Reds have plenty of the mid-range prospects that the Rays like and could afford Odorizzi.  They also have a reclamation project in Devin Mesoraco that could interest Tampa Bay.

While those three make the most sense, there are others that the Cincinnati Reds could make a run at.

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A pitcher that would cost more, but make more sense is Sean Manaea of the Oakland Athletics.  The Reds have a price controlled slugger in Adam Duvall that Oakland covets.  Both players are affordable and the clubs control the duo through 2021 or longer.

Another young pitcher that the Reds could make a run at is Marcus Stroman of the Toronto Blue Jays.  The Reds have plenty of talent to complete the deal, but the Blue Jays have to decide if they are rebuilding or want to make one last run with Josh Donaldson.  

The Reds could send two or three pitching prospects with a young outfielder and barely impact their rebuild here.

The deal that makes the most sense is trading for Gerrit Cole of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Pirates need to reload for when Andrew McCutchen moves on.  Mesoraco, cash and a couple prospects could make the Pirates bite, but the Reds aren’t likely to risk sending a former All-Star to a rival.

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The Reds want to spend free agent money to get a last starter.  If that doesn’t work, there half a dozen pitchers that could make sense.  Just like a free agent, though, they all have their issues.