Reds rumors: Shortstop Amed Rosario drawing interest

Amed Rosario is the latest name to emerge in the most recent Reds rumors. Will the Cincinnati Reds make a deal for the Cleveland Indians shortstop? Rosario was dealt to Cleveland earlier this offseason when the New York Mets made a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor.

Cincinnati is in the market for a starting shortstop. With Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons, and Freddy Galvis all agreeing to one-year contracts earlier this week, there are not many free agent options remaining.

Didi Gregorius has been involved in recent Reds rumors as well.

Of the top shortstops available on the free agent market, only Didi Gregorius is left. The former Reds farmhand is said to be looking for a multiyear contract with an average annual value of $15M. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, that number may be a bit too much for the Reds.

That’s where Amed Rosario enters the equation. Rosario represents a much less expensive solution for the thrifty Reds front office. Mike Puma of the New York Post was the first to report Cincinnati’s interest in the 25-year-old infielder.

Amed Rosario makes a lot of sense for the Reds.

Rosario checks plenty of boxes for the Cincinnati Reds. A former top prospect within the Mets organization, Rosario has nearly 400 games at the shortstop position. A career fielding percentage of .969 isn’t the most impressive, but during the abbreviated 2020 season, Rosario improved that number to .981.

Amed Rosario’s offensive production was not good last season with a slash line of .252/.272/.371. Those numbers fall well short of his previous three seasons in New York in which he hit .270/.305/.406. If Rosario can return to those numbers, Cincinnati might be able to find a serviceable replacement for Freddy Galvis until José García is deemed major league-ready.

Rosario is owed $2.4M for the upcoming season, and is under control through 2023. With Gregorius’ contract demands likely outside the scope of what Cincinnati is looking to pay, Rosario might be the Reds’ last, best, and final option to upgrade the shortstop position before the start of the 2021 season.