Reds: 1 trade to make and 1 trade to avoid with the Twins

The Reds should make a trade for Twins’ reliever Taylor Rogers.

This is a no-brainer. The Cincinnati Reds do not have a reliable left-handed reliever in their bullpen. Heck, with Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims on the injured list, you could make the argument that David Bell doesn’t have a reliable reliever at all. Making a deal for Taylor Rogers is exactly the type of move that Nick Krall should be investigating.

Not only is Rogers having a terrific season in the Twin Cities, but the southpaw is also under team control through next season. That would give the Reds a reliable reliever for this season and next year as well. You know, kind of like Archie Bradley, whom the team foolishly allowed to leave this winter.

Rogers is a difference maker; a word that Bell can’t use for any relievers currently on the team’s active roster. In 38 games, Rogers owns a 3.43 ERA and 35.2% strikeout-rate in 38 games. Rogers also has a 2.20 FIP, suggesting he’s pitched even better than his numbers indicate. The 30-year-old also has a ground ball-rate north of 50%, which is highly coveted while pitching in Cincinnati.

The question becomes, however, what’s it going to cost the Reds in order to land Rogers? Well, let’s just say he won’t come cheap. Minnesota seems more inclined to hang onto their controllable assets, as it’s assumed that this hiccup in 2021 will be a blip on the radar and the Twins will be back to competing for the division crown in 2022.

I think, realistically, Cincinnati would have to be willing to give up one of their Top 10 prospects plus a mid-level player within their farm system in order to snag Taylor Rogers. That means a player like Rece Hinds, Tyler Callihan, or Lyon Richardson might have to be sacrificed if the Reds hope to make a trade with the Twins for Rogers.