Matt McLain's return to Reds lineup only fortifies trade deadline reality

The Cincinnati Reds activated second baseman Matt McLain from the injured list ahead of the team's upcoming series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. McLain had been rehabbing at Triple-A Louisville after suffering a calf strain before the All-Star break.

To make room on the active roster, the Reds optioned Edwin Arroyo back to the minor leagues. His first two months in the bigs were frought with struggles — both in the batter's box and in the field. In 44 games, he hit just .244 with a .568 OPS and looked lost at times while playing second base.

As painful as it's been at times watching Arroyo swing the bat, Reds fans can't pretend that McLain's season has gone much better. Though he went 5-for-14 with two doubles and an RBI during his brief four-game rehab assignment with the Louisville Bats, McLain's numbers on the season are underwhelming. He's hitting just .190 with a .622 OPS and a 71 wRC+.

As such, the Reds can't afford to ignore the obvious — finding a competent second baseman before the August 3 trade deadline passes should be on their wish list.

Matt McLain's return can't allow the Reds to be complacent at the trade deadline

Reds fans have waited for McLain to return to the player he was during his rookie season. In 2023 he hit .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 50 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and a 129 wRC+. But since that time, he's never been the same.

Shoulder surgery wiped out McLain's sophomore season in 2024, and he was given a pass last season after hitting .220/.300/.343. He came out of the gates red hot this spring, and was the talk of the town of Goodyear. In 18 Cactus League games, McLain posted a .509/.559/.981 slash line and was inserted back into the No. 2 spot in the batting order.

But he was unable to maintain that level of production — nor has he come anywhere close. Before his injury, McLain was hanging out at the bottom-third of Terry Francona's lineup card, and that's not likely to change any time soon.

So, with both McLain and Arroyo failing to impress this season, the Reds should be on the lookout for a serviceable second baseman who can at least hit. McLain has an above-average glove at the keystone, and while Arroyo is a work in progress, he's widely viewed as an above average defender.

The list of needle-movers who play second base and could be traded at the deadline isn't very long. The Baltimore Orioles are rumored to be shopping Jackson Holliday, but that price tag won't be cheap. Colorado Rockies infielder Willi Castro is signed through next season, but with the impending CBA negotiations threatening the 2027 campaign, that would be a bold move.

If the Reds are serious about upgrading the position, they might need to dip into a rival's farm system. The Arizona Diamondbacks have a lot of depth at the position, and with Ketel Marte entrenched at the big-league level, perhaps they'd be amenable to a deal at this year's deadline.

Regardless of who, the fact of the matter is that the Reds need to find someone other than McLain or Arroyo who can play second base; at least if they hope to compete in 2027.

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