Reds: 4 difficult transactions Cincinnati must make in the coming days

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 10: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds walks back to the dugout. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 10: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds walks back to the dugout. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
1 of 4
Nick Senzel #15 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate with Mike Moustakas #9 after scoring.
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 12: Nick Senzel #15 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate with Mike Moustakas #9 after scoring. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

In the coming days and weeks, the Cincinnati Reds will look much different. Mike Moustakas, Nick Senzel, and Lucas Sims all began a rehab assignment this past Friday, and Tejay Antone won’t be far behind. Nick Castellanos is currently rehabbing from a microfracture in his wrist, but once he’s on the mend, expect Cincinnati’s top bat back in the lineup.

All of the expected returns will have a ripple effect throughout the roster. When it’s time to recall Senzel, Moustakas, Castellanos, Sims, and Antone, corresponding moves must be made. Nick Krall and David Bell will have some difficult decisions to make in the coming days.

Who stays and who goes? That’s the dilemma that faces the Reds’ skipper and front office as several of Cincinnati’s injured players inch closer to a return. Over the next few days, the following transactions must take place.

1. Reds reinstate Mike Moustakas and option Max Schrock.

This is about as close to a no-brainer as possible. When Mike Moustakas is deemed ready to go, the Cincinnati Reds will need to option Max Schrock back to Triple-A Louisville. Schrock has likely gotten very familiar with the scenery up and down I-71 since the 2021 season.

Moustakas, like Schrock, can field both second and third base and hits from the left side. Moose, of course, is an All-Star caliber player and will certainly supplant the career-utility player on the active roster.

That’s not to say that we won’t see Schrock again this season. Obviously, if another Reds infielder incurs an injury this season, the 26-year-old will be on deck. Schrock has had a decent showing this season, hitting .243/.300/.486 in a very limited role off the bench.

Max Schrock has a future on this Reds team, potentially filling the role we’ve seen from Mike Freeman this season. Schrock has seen some time in the outfield, as well as first base, and could be a very versatile bench bat in the future.

Schedule