Angels' pursuit of Anthony Santander could thrust Reds into trade talks with LA

The Cincinnati Reds’ dreams of landing a premier outfield via free agency always seemed a bit far-fetched, and the club’s apparent budget restrictions have now all but dashed those hopes. However, Cincinnati could still benefit from Anthony Santander’s signing, albeit indirectly.

The latest rumors surrounding Santander have linked the right fielder to the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels. If the slugger, who finished second in the AL in homers, becomes the latest signing in a busy offseason in L.A., the Reds could swoop in for one of the Angels’ leftovers, namely Jo Adell or Taylor Ward. 

Missing out on signing Anthony Santander could actually help the Reds

Those names should be familiar to Reds fans as they seem to come up in each trade window as viable candidates to solve Cincy’s perennial outfield problems. Adell, who landed in Baseball America’s Top 15 prospects from 2019-21, has long been the breakout candidate for the Angels, but that big year has yet to come. He finally broke through for a full-time role in 2024, but his power failed to translate from Triple-A, where he slugged .550, to the majors, where his slugging percentage is just .381.

Still, Adell would be useful for Cincinnati. He can hit with power to all fields and made significant strides in his approach at the plate, dropping his strikeout rate from 40.3% to 27.9%. Also, Adell wouldn’t have to platoon as his stats are fairly consistent.

More desirable would be Ward, who has been among the Angels’ most productive bats over the past three years. Primarily a left fielder, he came up through the ranks as a third baseman, and he still has a strong arm, meaning he can play all three outfield positions and the hot corner.

Those qualities also make Ward a less likely trade candidate. With Mike Trout’s history of injuries, the Angels are unlikely to part with the best known entity on their roster. Instead, the Reds may pivot to either Mickey Moniak, who served alongside Adell and Ward as Trout recovered.

Moniak, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, seemed like he would live up to those expectations when he finally found consistent playing time in 2023. Unfortunately, he regressed as the go-to center fielder in 2024. The Reds could pick him up with the hopes of unlocking his potential, but the pressing need for production right now makes this unlikely. They’re better off aiming high with Ward or settling for Adell.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors