Reds: 3 potential trade packages for injury-riddled New York Mets

The New York Mets are in desperate need of help amid a flurry injuries that have hampered the NL East leaders over the past few weeks. The Mets are without Kevin Pillar, Albert Almora Jr., Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo. Could the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds make a deal that would be mutually beneficial?

The Reds have an influx of talented outfielders, and that includes Nick Senzel, who’s currently on the injured list. Might one of Cincinnati’s outfielders be expendable? According to reports, the Mets are looking at potential trade scenarios to help their battered and bruised ball club. Would the Mets even be interested?

The trick with a trade at this point in time is that Cincinnati would be unwilling to give up a big name like Nick Castellanos, because that would essentially be giving up on the season. However, New York isn’t just going to settle for a player like Kyle Farmer, who’s likely not an upgrade over one of the Mets’ internal options.

So what are some possible trade scenarios that help both teams? Let’s explore a handful of potential deals that would help New York offset the current rash of injuries while also netting the Reds some much needed bullpen help.

1. Reds ship Shogo Akiyama to the Big Apple.

Shogo Akiyama has not been the player that Reds fans thought they were going to see after Cincinnati made the big splash signing in December of 2019. The left-handed hitting Akiyama has served more of a reserve role since returning to the Cincinnati Reds lineup earlier this month.

Akiyama’s remaining two years and $15M on his current contract will not be easy to shed. If the Reds wish to part with Shogo, it’ll cost them a prospect or two. Perhaps a player like Ivan Johnson would sweeten the deal, and the Reds could also throw in former Tampa Bay Rays’ prospect José De León.

But what could Cincinnati hope to get in return? Honestly, not much, but we saw the Reds make similar type of deal this offseason by dumping Raisel Iglesias and his $9M salary on the Los Angeles Angels in return for a reliever and Low-A infield prospect.

Would New York be willing to part with Robert Gsellman and Jacob Barnes? Neither is going to be a stalwart performer out of the bullpen, but it would give Nick Krall and David Bell a few more options. The Reds pen is currently in shambles. Both Gsellman and Barnes have one year of team-control remaining and Gsellman has two minor league options as well.