Cincinnati Reds: Adding Nicholas Castellanos does not necessitate a trade

Option 1: Move Nick Senzel to the infield

Shogo Akiyama was primarily a centerfielder over in Japan, and a lot of fans and baseball experts predict he’ll do the same for Cincinnati. There’s little doubt Akiyama could play center field in the relatively small outfield of Great American Ball Park, but Nick Senzel might have something to say about that.

Last year, the Reds invested a lot of time and resources in helping shape the former No. 2 overall pick into a serviceable centerfielder. The 24-year-old was not an elite defender, but showed the wherewithal to be a competent outfielder. The move was made because Eugenio Suárez occupies Senzel’s natural position and the Reds wanted the rookie’s bat in the lineup.

Okay, no big deal. If Cincinnati wants to keep Senzel as the team’s primary centerfielder, then Akiyama can slide over to left field, right? After all, a lot of skilled centerfielders have switched to a corner outfield position over the years. An outfield comprised of Senzel (center), Akiyama (left) and Castellanos (right) sounds pretty good, right?

The problem is, that still leaves three very talented outfielders (Aristides Aquino, Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin) without a regular spot in the lineup. Perhaps the solution is moving Nick Senzel back to the infield. Senzel spent his entire college and professional career, until last season, on the infield dirt.

Whether the Reds decide to shuffle around the likes of Suárez or Mike Moustakas in order to find the best spot for all three players, there’s little doubt that all three could find a place to play. Could Senzel make the move to shortstop? Might the Reds entertain the idea of Geno returning to his previous position? It’s an idea worth exploring. For now, Freddy Galvis is the starting shortstop.