Cincinnati Reds: 3 players who could be gone by the trade deadline

Zach Duke, Pitcher

This is has absolutely nothing to do with a potential trade, but rather a lack of production. So far Zach Duke has failed to impress and the Cincinnati Reds have enough left-handed pitchers that his production could be easily replaced.

Duke is a LOOGY. His entire job rests on the ability to get a key out versus a left-handed batter is crucial times during the game. He’s yet to do that and his time could be very short. Duke has appeared in 8 games, thrown a grand total of 4.1 innings and has an ERA of 8.31.

Zach Duke seems like a nice guy, so I’m going to try to go easy on my criticism, but the guy doesn’t bring enough value to this team to justify the Reds hanging onto him for much longer. He’s not the only left-handed pitcher that David Bell can turn to.

Amir Garrett has had a great start to the 2019 season and Wandy Peralta, also a southpaw, turned in a great spring. Robert Stephenson, while not a lefty, has been a surprisingly good addition to the Reds’ bullpen as well. Peralta owns a 0.00 ERA, Garrett’s ERA is 1.35 and Stephenson’s is only 0.96.

The Reds also have lefties Cody Reed and Brandon Finnegan down at Triple-A Louisville if David Bell is desperate for another southpaw out of the pen. Matt Bowman, Sal Romano, Jackson Stephens, and Anthony Bass all provide reinforcements if the Reds move on from Duke.

Zach Duke is a specialist and his is a dying breed. If MLB insiztiutes the new three-batter minimum next season, the days of the LOOGY will be gone. Duke has not produced yet this season and it wouldn’t be shocking at all if he were let go before the All-Star break.