Reds: 3 players who may lose their roster spot when Jesse Winker returns

2. Jesse Winker could replace Reds infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera.

If Tyler Naquin is deemed healthy enough to play in the coming days, Asdrúbal Cabrera is the obvious choice to be given his walking papers. The Reds pounced on the opportunity to pick up Cabrera on waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but that shrewd pickup has not helped Cincinnati’s cause.

Cabrera is a veteran infielder, former All-Star, and former World Champion, but that was in the past. Since joining the Cincinnati Reds prior to September, Cabrera is 0-for-19 with five strikeouts. Cabrera came within an eyelash of recording his first hit with the Redlegs on Tuesday night while pinch hitting in the ninth inning, but his fly ball to right field was hauled in on the warning track.

Picking up Asdrúbal Cabrera was the correct move. The Reds were in the middle of a playoff chase, and both Mike Moustakas and Eugenio Suárez have played well below expectations this season. Adding Cabrera gave David Bell a switch hitting bench bat capable of playing both corner infield spots.

However, the move just hasn’t panned out. Like the majority of players on the Cincinnati roster, it appears that Cabrera is pressing; trying to do too much and, in turn, doing virtually nothing. With Max Schrock actually putting the bat on the ball, the Reds would be much better using the 26-year-old as the top utility infielder over the next few weeks of the 2021 season.