Reds: 3 likely transactions Cincinnati will execute in the coming days

2. Reds reinstate Mike Moustakas option Scott Heineman to Triple-A.

The reports are that Mike Moustakas will likely return to the Cincinnati Reds lineup during the team’s upcoming road trip. Moose has been out of action since May 18th. The three-time All-Star’s presence has been missed, both on and off the field.

Moustakas is been the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse. Even longtime Reds first baseman Joey Votto has acknowledged Moose’s leadership. That’s a quality that can’t be overstated. Having Moustakas back in action will be a boost to this team.

The most interesting aspect of Mike Moustakas’s return will be how David Bell handles the shortstop position. With Moustakas on the IL for nearly one month, the lion’s share of starts at third base have gone to Eugenio Suarez. Geno looks much more comfortable and confident back at the hot corner than he did playing his old shortstop position.

However I don’t see any way that Bell platoons Moustakas and Suarez at third base. I also don’t see the Reds’ skipper benching India and shifting Moose to the keystone. I believe that we’ll see a return to the original Opening Day infield of Votto at first base, India at second base, Moustakas at third base, and Suarez at shortstop. That’s not ideal defensively, but that’s likely what Reds Country will see when Moose returns.

Once Moustakas is back on the 26-man roster, Scott Heineman will no longer be counted on to sub in for Votto at first base. Though we’ve seen the 28-year-old play more in the outfield than the infield, with Aquino on his way back as well, it’s hard to see the Reds hanging onto six outfielders.