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

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 09: Aristides Aquino #44 of the Cincinnati Reds warms up. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Cincinnati Reds appear to be getting healthy, and that’s good news for fanbase. Over the past several weeks, some of Cincinnati’s best players have found their way onto the injured list. In turn, we’ve been able to see a couple young prospects make their major league debuts.

While Nick Senzel and Michael Lorenzen may still be several weeks away from returning to the Reds lineup, players like Aristides Aquino and Mike Moustakas are likely to make their return any day now.

However, if anyone is reinstated from there injured list, a corresponding move must be made. With that in mind, what transactions are the Cincinnati faithful likely to see in the coming days? One such move could be unexpected.

1. Reds reinstate Aristides Aquino and option Mark Payton to Triple-A.

We haven’t seen Aristides Aquino on a major league field since April 13th at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The Punisher was sidelined with a broken hamate bone in his hand. Aquino has been on rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville for a little over a week. The right-handed slugger has performed well, with two home runs, three RBIs, and slugging percentage of .769.

On the flip side, Mark Payton just doesn’t seem to have what it takes to be an effective major league player. Payton, in a reserve role, is 4-for-22 good enough for just a .182 batting average. While Payton can play all three outfield spots, so can Aquino.

We know Aristides Aquino can play the corner outfield spots, but The Punisher recently got the starting nod in center field for the Louisville Bats. My best guess is that, until Nick Senzel returns to the lineup, David Bell may platoon the trio of Aquino, Tyler Naquin, and Scott Heineman in center field.

Once he returns to the big leagues, the Cincinnati Reds must keep Aristides Aquino on the 26-man roster or risk exposing the slugger to waivers. Given that just two years Aquino took home Player of the Month honors in August in 2019, it’s highly likely that he’d be claimed.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 12: Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds in action. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

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.

David Bell says there’s a “real good chance” Mike Moustakas will be able to play on the upcoming road trip.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) June 12, 2021

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.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – JUNE 08: Sean Doolittle #63 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3. Reds select Phillip Diehl and designate Sean Doolittle for assignment.

Sean Doolittle was the Cincinnati Reds lone major league signing this offseason, and it hasn’t worked well for either party. Doolittle is 3-0 with a 4.98 ERA in 25 games. The left-hander has 29 punch outs in 21.2 innings of work.

Over his last seven games, Doolittle has been downright bad. The southpaw has thrown six innings, allowed five earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Doolittle’s ERA over that stretch is 7.50. To make matters worse for David Bell, his other left-handed option, Amir Garrett, has been dreadful and owns the highest ERA among active Cincinnati relievers.

Phillip Diehl, however, has been tearing up the competition at Triple-A Louisville. The lefty is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings of work. Diehl’s WHIP is an impressive 0.86 and he’s struck out 18 batters in 15 games for the Louisville Bats this season.

Diehl is not part of Cincinnati’s 40-man roster, so adding him would require a corresponding move. Sean Doolittle just doesn’t seem to have it. In fact, last season, though he was plagued by injuries, was not a banner year for Doolittle either.

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Doolittle saw the field just 11 times, but struck out only six batters and allowed opponents to hit .300 against. This season, Doolittle has a .277 batting average against. His performance seems eerily similar to what we saw from Zach Duke in 2019 and Nate Jones last season. Both were highly regarded relievers, but their best days were behind them. The same seems to hold true for Doolittle.

Home / Reds Rumors

1. Reds reinstate Aristides Aquino and option Mark Payton to Triple-A.

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

3. Reds select Phillip Diehl and designate Sean Doolittle for assignment.

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