D-backs insider found the one Hunter Greene trade that would make Reds' problem worse

The Hunter Greene trade rumors have been nonstop since the Cincinnati Reds season came to an end last month. Two Reds beat writers — Mark Sheldon of MLB.com and Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer — have fueled this speculation, and president of baseball operations Nick Krall has done nothing to squelch it.

As such, Cincinnati fans have heard umpteen different Reds rumors and a variety of trade proposals over the past few weeks. Almost every team throughout Major League Baseball would love to have Greene as part of their starting rotation, so it should come as no surprise when opposing fanbases and pundits dream up certain trade packages for the Reds' ace.

One Arizona Diamondbacks insider, however, seems to have lost the plot. Jack Sommers of The Snakes Territory Podcast came up a trade proposal centered around Greene and D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte. While Marte would provide a boost to the Reds' lineup, this bizarre trade concoction wouldn't work for a number of reasons.

Reds Rumors: This Hunter Greene trade to the D-backs would only make Cincy's problem worse

During an appearance on the Foul Territory Podcast, Sommers said, "If you really want to go blockbuster, they could perhaps, say, trade Ketel Marte for Hunter Greene. Greene's got four years of control for $61 million...When he's on the field, he's an ace-level starter. And he's young, with four years of control."

Most Reds fans know that this trade proposal is dead on arrival, mainly because of the finances involved. As was pointed out by Sommers, Greene is under control for four more seasons with an average annual value of just $15 million. Marte just signed a six-year extension with the D-backs last season worth $105 million. While that number is certainly doable, the Reds are unlikely to take on 32-year-old who's under contract for another five seasons.

The Reds also have a plethora of talented middle infielders — both in the big leagues and in the minors. The last thing they want to do is gum up the works by adding a player like Marte who's landlocked at second base. While his offensive numbers would look terrific in the middle of the Reds batting order, his defense is marginal at best. Cincinnati has already hitched their wagon to Matt McLain at the keystone, and his 2026 salary is only a fraction of what Marte's slated to make.

Finally, Marte brings a lot of baggage to the table. His teammates voiced their displeasure last season after he left the club high and dry following the All-Star break. As talented as the D-backs star may be, the last thing the Reds need is to offload their ace, and in so doing, bring a malcontent like Marte into the clubhouse.

Sorry, Jack, but this trade proposal just ain't cutting the mustard. Now, if the D-backs are truly interested in Greene and want to include Gold Glove catcher Gabriel Moreno in a potential deal, perhaps then we can at least start talking.