Cincinnati Reds: Phillip Ervin should be traded before Opening Day

Though extremely talented, the Cincinnati Reds outfield is undoubtedly overcrowded. Thus, the team should look to trade former first-round pick Phillip Ervin.

Yasiel Puig, Scott Schebler and a platoon of Jesse Winker and Matt Kemp will likely make-up the outfield on David Bell‘s roster. The odd-man-out of the Cincinnati Reds outfield picture is Phillip Ervin. Despite a red-hot start to Spring Training that has seen the 26-year-old outfielder hit three home runs in less than 20 at-bats, there is unlikely to be room on the roster for Ervin.

Not only are Puig, Schebler, Winker, and Kemp near locks to make the roster, but the team’s top prospect and center fielder Nick Senzel is on the cusp of making the big leagues. Thus, even if Bell elected to take five outfielders on his opening day roster, Ervin could still be the odd-man out.

With Phillip Ervin still young and showing signs of significant improvement, the Cincinnati Reds should look to deal the outfielder in exchange for a prospect or perhaps even a fifth starting pitcher.

In 78 games at the major league level in 2018, Ervin slashed .252/.324/.404 with 7 home runs and 31 RBIs. Ervin also had 6 stolen bases. He would provide any team with a quality fourth outfielder who could potentially develop into a starter.

As for what a trade of Ervin would look like, making a move with a team such as the San Francisco Giants could make a lot of sense. San Francisco missed out on Bryce Harper and moved on from Hunter Pence; thus there’s little depth in their current outfield. As far as their starting pitching, however, they have plenty of depth including veterans Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz that could be made available for trade.

A potential deal sending Phillip Ervin to the Giants for a lower level or prospect or perhaps one of these inning-eating starters would make a lot of sense for a Cincinnati Reds team with a plethora of outfielders but still in need of one more starting pitcher.