ESPN insider floats blockbuster Reds trade that front office should absolutely go for

It has been a while since the Cincinnati Reds have been in real position to be buyers at the trade deadline. Sure, there have been times that the Reds were technically in the running, but this Reds team has a +23 run differential right now and seems capable of making a real run at a playoff spot even if winning the NL Central could be out of reach. In order to make it happen, Nick Krall is going to have to be bold and ignore the temptation to take advantage of the seller's market.

Given the size of the Reds' market, the team cannot afford to just throw prospects at top rental players in search of short-term gains. Cincinnati needs to either find value on bargain deals or go after talent that would come with some actual team control. The pitching staff looks in great shape behind All-Star Andrew Abbott, but the lineup, especially the outfield, could use some reinforcements behind Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl.

ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan seems to agree that the Reds need to be trade deadline buyers. In his latest piece on top trade deadline moves for contenders, Passan thinks that the Reds should go after Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. To be frank, that is something the front office should absolutely try.

Jeff Passan thinks Reds should make Steven Kwan a trade target and that sounds like a great idea

Passan correctly notes that while Cleveland isn't going to give Kwan up cheaply given how good he has been and that he has 2.5 years of team control through arbitration, Cincinnati is one of the few organizations that has the prospect depth to be able to put together a trade package. Yes, it would require multiple top 100 prospects such as Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, or Sal Stewart, but the Reds would gain arguably the best contact hitter in baseball who refuses to strike out and who is also an excellent outfield defender.

The trick, of course, is the Reds front office having the courage to put together an offer that would actually get Cleveland's attention. The Guardians aren't going anywhere this season and need to turn assets like Kwan into real roster depth if they are ever going to get things going again. For the Reds, they would be investing in their future even if things don't work out in 2025.

For the moment, Krall says he is in wait-and-see mode when it comes to the trade deadline and that is probably fair. However, making a strong push for Kwan honestly makes sense to a point even if there is skepticism in the front office about Cincinnati's chances this season. He is the type of player that could help the Reds for years to come.

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