MLB insider's absurd Andrew Abbott trade pitch ignores Reds' track record

Leave it to MLB insider Jon Morosi to make one of the most absurd trade pitches you've ever heard. During an appearance on 104.3 The Score in Chicago, Morosi suggested the Cincinnati Reds might be willing to shop Andrew Abbott ahead of this year's MLB trade deadline. Not only is this idea asinine, it also ignores everything the Reds value.

Abbott, who just turned in one of his best outings of the season against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, is still pre-arbitration eligible and under team control for three more years beyond the 2026 season.

If Morosi, or anybody else for that matter, believes the Reds would be willing to trade one of their best starting pitchers while he's on such financially-friendly deal, I've got some oceanfront property in Nebraska I'd like to sell you.

During his interview with 104.3 The Score, Morosi cited the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets as obvious sellers at this year's deadline, and then shifted his focus to the Reds.

"I thought they (the Reds) were going to be a much better team when this season started," Morosi said. "They really have struggled over the last month, and I wonder (if) a pitcher like Andrew Abbott, who was an All-Star a year ago — a really impressive lefty with multiple years of control — he's almost like what (Tarik) Skubal was a couple years ago, but it's an even more obvious sell-decision in my opinion."

The Reds aren't trading Andrew Abbott, but they might listen on Nick Lodolo

Morosi's trade scenario centered around Abbott falls flat for a number of reasons, but that doesn't mean that Cincinnati won't be shopping some of their starting pitchers this summer. Brady Singer, who'll be a free agent after the season, is an obvious choice to be moved ahead of the trade deadline, and Nick Lodolo could be a intriguing name to watch as we get closer to August 3.

Lodolo has battled injuries throughout his career, but after a brief stint on the IL to begin the year, he's returned to the type of frontline starter Reds fans remember from years past. He's posted a 0.60 ERA and 2.85 FIP over his last three outings and has a 23% strikeout rate during that time.

While shopping Abbott seems like a fool's errand, flipping Lodolo at the trade deadline could net the Reds a high-upside prospect or two and help to alleviate the logjam that's currently affecting the team's starting rotation. Hunter Greene's return has forced Rhett Lowder into a relief role and fellow starter turned reliever Chase Petty was recently sent back to the minor leagues.

Lodolo is under team-control through next season, and with the impending uncertainty surrounding the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, now might be the perfect time to sell high on the 28-year-old lefty.

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