One more meltdown from this Reds prospect could ignite trade deadline backlash

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Petty is, for some odd reason, still ranked among the top 100 prospects in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. The right-hander made his Major League debut earlier this season, but crashed and burned during his first start against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30. Petty received two more bites at the apple, but has spent most of the season at Triple-A.

Petty's latest start for Louisville Bats earlier this week was arguably his worst of the year. The 21-year-old was lifted after just 2⅔ innings having already surrendered nine runs on nine hits, including three home runs. Petty struck out just one of the 17 batters he faced and now owns a 5.51ERA in 18 minor-league starts.

Petty was a name that numerous Reds fans assumed was on the chopping block at last week's MLB trade deadline — and he might've been. Cincinnati, however, hung onto their young hurler, and they may live to regret that decision if Petty fails to turn things around.

One more meltdown from Reds prospect Chase Petty could ignite trade deadline backlash

Prospect capital can be invaluable at the trade deadline. The Reds parted with a number of their top-30 organizational prospects last week, including players like Sammy Stafura (Ke'Bryan Hayes trade) and Adam Serwinowski (Zack Littell trade).

One can assume that Petty, being a top-100 prospect, could've brought back a nice return if he was packaged alongside another young player or two at the deadline. Cincinnati came up empty-handed in their quest for a big-bat, and the lineup has been rather lifeless since the July 31 deadline passed.

There's hope that Petty can return to the the type of tantalizing prospect he was before the season began. Prior to his MLB debut, Petty posted a 3.52 ERA with 27 punch outs in 23 innings of work this season. In his 13 starts since, however, Petty is 3-7 with a 6.32 ERA and just 46 Ks over 57 innings pitched. He's also walked 30 batters during that span as well.

Petty's free-fall may have been the reason that other organizations turned their nose up at the deadline, or perhaps the Reds preferred not to sell low on a player they still believe in. Regardless, many Reds fans thought Petty should've been traded at the deadline in order to help secure an extra bat for the final two months the season.

Petty's development is crucial heading into next season, as it would appear that Cincinnati will lose both Littlell and Nick Martinez to free agency this offseason. Reds fans can only hope that Petty's long-term future with the club will be more valuable than what his trade value would've been at this year's deadline.

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