MLB insider stokes Reds fans' fears over surprise trade deadline departure

The Cincinnati Reds should be buyers, not sellers, at the upcoming MLB trade deadline. But MLB insider Jeff Passan, along with prospect evaluator Kiley McDaniel, recently published a list of the top-50 trade candidates ahead of this year's deadline, and named Nick Martinez among the most likely players to be dealt.

Martinez comes in at No. 29 on the list with Passan and McDaniel giving the Reds' starter a 65% chance of being traded at the deadline. Having Martinez on the list isn't overly surprising, but suggesting that he's more likely to be traded than not borders on insanity.

The Reds have already used Martinez in multiple ways this season — he's made two relief appearances in the past week — and with so many starters on the injured list, it's inconceivable to think that Cincinnati would trade the right-hander ahead of the July 31 deadline.

Would the Reds really part with Nick Martinez at the MLB trade deadline?

Martinez could fetch a nice return on the trade market; there's no doubt about that. The veteran is on an expiring deal, which make him attractive other teams. Martinez has the ability to work as a starter or reliever, which is something that opposing GMs will be fighting over ahead of next month's deadline.

After his relief appearance on Monday against the New York Yankees, Martinez is 4-8 with a 4.40 ERA and 63 punch outs in 86 innings. The 34-year-old is a team player in every sense of the word and provides invaluable intangibles to the clubhouse as well.

But it's for those reasons, and so many others, that the Reds should keep Martinez for the entire 2025 season. Yes, trading him would help Cincinnati to recoup somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 million, but after DFA'ing Jeimer Candelario this week, do you really think the Reds are hung up on saving money this season? Cincinnati's farm system is already stockpiled with talent, meaning that the cupboard is not bare and there's no need to add more to their coffers.

The Reds brought in a Hall of Fame-caliber manager, DFA'd their most expensive position player, called up their top prospect, and knows there's a limited window for success with an MVP-level superstar (Elly De La Cruz) under contract through 2029. Trading away Martinez is not the type of move that pushes a franchise forward, but rather it sets the organization back.

Reds fans are tired of being the punching bag of Major League Baseball. The club hasn't won a playoff series in 30 years. It's time to end that drought this October, and dealing Martinez at the deadline does nothing to help in that regard. The Cincinnati faithful are hopeful that Passan and McDaniel are way off on their assessment of the Reds' future plans for this year's trade deadline.

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