Cincinnati Reds: 5 blockbuster trades to consider this offseason

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CINCINNATI, OH – MAY 14: A close up view of a hat and baseball glove in the dugout with the New Era logo before a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

If the Reds want to upgrade the roster, these five trades could certainly help.

The Cincinnati Reds fell short of expectations in 2020, but a solid core remains for the 2021 season. However, seeing how the postseason has unfolded, the Reds will have to make some major upgrades if the team hopes to make a run at National League pennant next season. What blockbuster deals could Cincinnati make this offseason?

We’ve seen the Reds front be very aggressive the past two seasons. In December of 2018, Cincinnati traded Homer Bailey and two prospects to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp and Kyle Farmer. Only Farmer remains with the team, but it was a turning point for the Reds franchise.

Cincinnati also made trades for starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer, letting go of several top prospects along the way. The team’s No. 1 prospect, Taylor Trammell, is no longer with the club, and Shed Long, Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray have been shipped out recently as well. The Reds are not afraid to make bold moves.

After the spending spree that Cincinnati went on last winter, it’s hard to envision the Reds investing much into the free agent market this offseason. However, a blockbuster trade is a way in which the Reds could upgrade the roster. What five trade targets could Nick Krall and the Cincinnati front office have their eyes set on this winter?

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 3: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates his first inning home run against the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

1. The Reds could go after Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor.

Francisco Lindor is likely at the top of nearly every team’s wishlist, and the Cincinnati Reds should be no exception. With a glaring hole at shortstop, adding Lindor would certainly boost the team’s offense heading into the 2021. But, the price for Lindor’s services is likely to be extremely high.

What would Cincinnati have to give up in order to land Lindor for the 2021 season? A lot. I’d have to think that established major leaguers like Nick Senzel or Aristides Aquino could be part of the package. Top prospects like Nick Lodolo, Jonathan India and even José García may be on the Indians’ list of desirables as well.

We’re likely to see a bidding war for Francisco Lindor’s services this offseason, and I for one don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze. The Cleveland Indians have tried on many different occasions to sign Lindor a multi-year deal. Each time it’s been rejected. Why? Because Lindor expects to be paid like one of the Top 10 players in Major League Baseball. And you know what? He should.

Lindor is a game-changer, but I find it hard to believe that the Cincinnati Reds would go all-in on a player who can walk after the 2021 season. I can’t see the Reds giving up what it’s likely going to cost (Lodolo, India, Senzel and Tony Santillan for example) to land the Indians All-Star shortstop for what’s likely to be just one season in a Cincinnati uniform.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 03: Lance Lynn #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

2. Lance Lynn could fill a hole in the Reds starting rotation.

Lance Lynn was surprisingly not moved at the trade deadline this past summer. The Texas Rangers finished dead-last in the American League West last season, and it stands to reason that the team may look to move Lynn this winter. If Trevor Bauer leaves via free agency, Lynn would be a cheap replacement with just one year left on his deal.

The former All-Star put up solid numbers in 2020. Lynn went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 13 starts. His 89 strikeouts were equal to what Luis Castillo put up last year and his 1.060 WHIP was better than Reds starter Sonny Gray. Lynn is workhorse, who’s 87 innings pitched led the league last season.

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Lance Lynn’s nine-year career has been littered with consistency. Outside of 2018, the right-handed has kept his ERA below 3.70 over the past six seasons. Tommy John surgery kept Lynn out of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation in 2016, but he returned the following year, going 11-8 and started a league-high 33 games.

Obviously, Reds Country would love for the Cincinnati front office to give Trevor Bauer an offer he can’t refuse, but I have to squint really hard to see that happening. With all the guaranteed contracts and upcoming raises due to the Reds arbitration-eligible players, I can’t see the Reds re-signing Bauer. Adding Lynn would be a nice consolation prize.

DENVER, CO – JULY 14: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies fields a ground ball against the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

3. Could the Reds pry Trevor Story away from the Mile High City?

While trading for Francisco Lindor is sure to be the most followed story this offseason, another shortstop could be moved as well. While most of Reds Country would love to see Lindor in a Cincinnati uniform next season, adding Trevor Story would be a phenomenal upgrade at the shortstop position as well.

Trevor Story had another terrific season in 2020. The right-handed hitting native of Texas slashed .289/.355/.519. His .874 OPS was right in line with the kind of numbers that Story typically puts up year-in and year-out. The former first-rounder had 11 home runs and 28 RBIs while stealing 15 bags in 2020.

Story signed a two-year contract that covered the final two seasons of his arbitration window and is owed $18.5M next season. The Rockies finished fourth in the NL West this past season, and it’s not hard to envision Colorado begin to rebuild without the likes of Story, Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon.

Trevor Story would be a one-year rental that Cincinnati could use as a stop gap until José García is ready to takeover as the Reds shortstop. Story would cost less than Lindor in terms of prospects and salary, with the Indians’ shortstop likely to command $20M-plus through the arbitration process this winter.

TEMPE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 18: Brandon Marsh #89 of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a photo during Photo Day. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

4. Might the Reds make a deal for the Angels top prospect?

What would it take for the Cincinnati Reds to pry Brandon Marsh away from the Los Angeles Angels? Maybe not as much as you would think. The Angels top prospect is effectively blocked at the major league level by Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Jo Adell. Marsh was a second-round pick of the Angels in 2016.

But why would the Reds want to pick up another outfielder? Have you been watching the Cincinnati Reds play over the past two seasons? It seems while the Reds have a plethora of talented outfielders, not one is able to put it all together. Nick Castellanos might be the most complete outfielder on Cincinnati’s roster, and he can opt out of his contract this winter.

The Nick Senzel experiment in center field has been a giant flop to this point. Senzel’s inability to stay healthy has certainly impacted his transition from the infield dirt to the outfield grass. But, beyond that, adding Shogo Akiyama to the roster last offseason likely ruined any type of confidence Senzel might have had heading into 2020.

I still believe that Senzel can be an elite-level player at the big league level, but to this point he’s not shown he can stay healthy. Adding a player like Marsh would give the Cincinnati Reds a phenomenal upgrade in center field both in the short and long-term. It’d probably cost some good, young pitchers, of which the Reds have many.

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 04: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees leads off first base. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

5. Would the Reds go after Clint Frazier?

We’ve heard this name before, but never has Clint Frazier had as much success in New York as the 26-year-old did in 2020. For one reason or another, it seemed as though Frazier was destined to never hav success in the Big Apple, however, a .267/.394/.511 slash line in 2020 proved that the right-handed hitting slugger can play at the major league level.

Frazier played in 39 games for the New York Yankees this past season and put up a career-best .905 OPS and 149 OPS+. Of course, Frazier’s power has never been in question, but his ability to get on base and his defense have been inconsistent at best.

In 2020, however, Frazier had an on-base percentage of .394. Frazier had just one error in 2020 as well. According to FanGraphs, Clint Frazier had 2 defensive runs saved (DRS) while playing 280 innings in the outfield. Last season, Frazier put up -8 DRS.

What would it cost the Cincinnati Reds to land Clint Frazier? Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. The Yankees are desperate for controllable starting pitchers. Players like Tyler Mahle, Tejay Antone, Tony Santillan or Vladimir Gutierrez might entice New York to make a deal.

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If the Cincinnati Reds wish to upgrade their roster over the offseason, the trade market is certainly something to consider. Many clubs will be looking to shed salary after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Will the Reds be one of those clubs, or will Cincinnati look to compete in 2021?

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