2 Reds who have no business being on a major league roster and 1 who needs a promotion

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The Cincinnati Reds made a lot of questionable moves over the offseason, and Nick Krall is now seeing the fruits of his labor. The Redlegs have the worst record in all of baseball, and it's painfully apparent that several players on the roster have absolutely no business being in the major leagues.

Krall, with ownership's blessing, gutted this team over the offseason. Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suárez, and Sonny Gray were all traded. Nick Castellanos was not retained, and the Reds allowed Wade Miley to walk for nothing rather than pick up his club-option.

So now Reds fans are left with a cadre of less-than-productive players to cheer for in 2022. While it's still very early in the season and the Cincinnati faithful shouldn't give up hope just yet, it's obvious that some of these players do not belong in the big leagues. Furthermore, there's a young man at Triple-A who's shown his mettle in the early-going and deserves a promotion.

1. Aristides Aquino has no business being on the Reds roster.

We've been beating this drum for some time now, but it's become apparent that it's well past time for the Cincinnati Reds to part ways with Aristides Aquino. Anyone who is bullish on the Reds waiting for Aquino to "figure things out" need only look at his stat line to know that moving on is the only way to go.

Aquino is 2-for-27 this season with one home run. Yes, just like you I was hoping that all The Punisher needed was to see one go over the fence in order to straighten things out, but that is not the case. Not at all.

Aquino has 18 strikeouts on the season. That is insane! That's a 64.3% strikeout-rate! Again, that's insane! The only thing more insane might be David Bell's insistence on penciling Aquino's name onto the lineup card. Nick Senzel can't come back soon enough.

It's time to designate Aristides Aquino for assignment. While Aquino has no minor league options remaining, it's doubtful that any other team would even put in a claim. The Cincinnati Reds have better options in the minor leagues and Aquino has proven that he cannot hit a breaking ball.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Colin Moran (16) gets set for a pitch during a spring training game. / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

2. Colin Moran has no business being on the Reds roster.

I didn't like the signing when the Reds made it, I'm even more bullish about it now. In no way should Colin Moran be on the Cincinnati Reds 28-man roster. The only thing that saved Moran early on was the rash of injuries that befell the Redlegs shortly before Opening Day.

Had Max Schrock, Donovan Solano, and Jose Barrero all been healthy, there's zero chance that Moran breaks camp with the Reds. The coaching staff can tout Moran's success versus right-handed pitching and his past success versus the Reds all they want, but that still doesn't mean that he deserves a spot on the active roster.

Colin Moran may have had the appearance of a Reds' killer in the past, but a quick look at his stats shows that it more of a mirage. Moran slashed .224/.286/.412 in 58 career games against Cincinnati and his .698 OPS while hitting at Great American Ball Park is nothing to write home about.

Moran should be optioned to Triple-A Louisville immediately. Once Nick Senzel returns from the COVID-IL, the Cincinnati Reds should send Moran to the Derby City and keep Alejo Lopez with the big league club. I'm aware that Moran is a left-handed bat, but his glove is suspect and he's currently hitting .125.

Ronnie Dawson at Cincinnati Reds Photo Day. / Sam Wasson/GettyImages

3. Ronnie Dawson should be promoted to the Reds roster.

Never say that we're not solutions-oriented here at Blog Red Machine. Rather than just sit back and tell you who stinks and why they don't belong on a big league roster, let's also take a look at a player who's been playing quite well at Triple-A Louisville.

Ronnie Dawson had a solid spring performance with the Cincinnati Reds. In limited action, the former Houston Astros second-round draft pick earned two hits in five at-bats and drew two walks. Dawson was eventually assigned to minor league camp and sent to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season.

GO-AHEAD HOME RUN RONNIE DAWSON!

Top 9 | Bats 5, Saints 4 pic.twitter.com/rNEpXb26ck
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) April 8, 2022

All Dawson has done with the Louisville Bats is tear up the competition to the tune of a .250/.340/.523 slash line with three home runs, nine RBIs, and six extra base hits. Dawson has also posted an impressive wRC+ of 128.

Not only has Dawson been impressive at the dish, but his defensive skills have been solid as well. Check out this clip courtesy of the Louisville Bats Twitter page to see Dawson flashing some leather.

Ronnie Dawson has seen limited action in The Show, appearing in three games for the Houston Astros last season. Dawson is left-handed bat; something the Cincinnati Reds are little heavy on right now, but given his production in the Derby City, the 26-year-old certainly deserves a look.

Next. Why Reds manager David Bell should not be on the hot seat. dark

TJ Friedl would be another option and is already on the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster, but if the front office does the right thing and designates Aristides Aquino for assignment, Dawson could lay claim to the vacant roster spot.

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