Cincinnati Reds: 3 trade packages swapping Nick Senzel for a shortstop

1. Reds ship Nick Senzel to the Indians and land a shortstop.

If the Cincinnati Reds really look to deal Nick Senzel before the season starts, the front office should make shortstop it’s primary target. The Indians have been known to be interested in Senzel for years, and with the addition of Amed Rosario earlier this offseason, Cleveland has more than enough middle infielders.

But the Reds cannot just give Senzel away for an average shortstop. Rosario is a solid, yet unspectacular shortstop. A career slash line of .268/.302/.403 is nothing that’s going to get Reds Country jumping up and down, but if Cleveland sweetened the pot, perhaps the two sides could make a deal.

George Valera is one of Cleveland’s top prospects entering the 2021 season. The outfielder was signed for $1.3M out of the Dominican Republic, but the 20-year-old has yet to play meaningful baseball in the United States. Valera has plus-power, but has a potential for a lot of swing and miss. He profiles as a corner outfielder who could hit 30-plus homers per season.

If the Reds are looking for a shortstop, Rosario seems like the most likely trade candidate. He’s under team control through the 2023, giving José García plenty of time to adjust to major league hitting. This deal would give Cincinnati a starting shortstop, and the combination of Shogo Akiyama, Dee Strange-Gordon, and Mark Payton could platoon in center field.