Cincinnati Reds: Three trade packages for Willy Adames

1. Reds send three top prospects to the Rays in exchange for Willy Adames.

If the Reds really want Willy Adames in their 2021 starting lineup, it’s going to cost them. Not to mention, the Tampa Bay Rays’ front office is one of the best in baseball, so don’t even think about fleecing Erik Neander. No matter which route the Reds take, making a deal for Adames will require the organization to sacrifice some top talent.

Jonathan India was taken by the Reds in the first-round of the 2018 MLB Draft. While he’s been slow out of the gates, it seems as though India is starting to show some signs of a productive major league player. The former Florida Gator is blocked at the big league level by Eugenio Suárez at third base, and the Reds have made no effort to really push India into the shortstop position.

Austin Hendrick was Cincinnati’s top choice in the 2020 MLB Draft. A power-hitting outfielder, Hendrick is ranked among the best prospects in the Reds farm system and No. 86 in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Landing a player like Adames will certainly cost the Cincinnati one of their top prospects.

Finally, to sweeten the pot, Nick Kralll could include Vladimir Gutierrez. An International signing out of Cuba, Gutierrez was suspended all of last season for PED use, and will serve the remainder of that suspension during the early part of the 2021 season. However, Gutierrez would undoubtedly shine under the tutelage of Tampa Bay’s pithing development staff.