3 more Reds players who should be dealt at the deadline after trading Frankie Montas

The first domino fell on Monday night when the Cincinnati Reds traded Frankie Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers. Montas was signed to a one-year deal prior to the season and was the Reds Opening Day starter this year, but with teams desperate for starting pitching at the MLB trade deadline, president of baseball operations Nick Krall felt the deal was too good to pass up.

The Reds were able to add relief pitcher Jakob Junis and outfielder Joey Wiemer. Junis is signed through the 2024 season and has a mutual option for 2025. Wiemer, who's spent of the season down in the Brewers' minor leagues, is under team control through the 2028 season.

But the trade deadline isn't over yet, and with so many free agents to-be and potential trade chips available, this Reds roster could look vastly different by 6 p.m. ET today. Who else could be traded before the MLB trade deadline? Who's staying put?

Nick Martinez, Reds RHP

After seeing the return they received for Montas, the Reds should be shopping Nick Martinez. The right-hander was another one of the Reds' free agent acquisitions this past offseason, but with no assurances that Martinez will return in 2025, his name should be floated out there a potential trade candidate.

Martinez has the ability to start, but would need to build up after most of his recent outings have only lasted two innings or less. A number of playoff-caliber teams, however, would love to have a swingman like Martinez on their staff.

Martinez's contract contains a player-option for next season, and with so many young pitchers in the Reds' system, Cincinnati can afford to part ways with the veteran at the MLB trade deadline. Adding Junis, who can go multiple innings as well, makes trading Martinez even easier.

Lucas Sims, Reds RHP

Lucas Sims' name has been tossed about for some time now. A free agent during the upcoming offseason, Sims has endured a somewhat difficult season. But the right-hander can work high-leverage innings and is a strikeout artist — something any number of contending teams aspire to add at this time of year.

Sims is owed just $2.85 million this season and has 40 punch outs in just over 35 innings of work. After throwing 61 innings last season, Sims' workload has been a bit lighter this year, and that could be quite appealing to a team looking to make an October run.

The price tag for pitching has been rather steep, and if Cincinnati can get something of significance in return for Sims, they should pull the trigger. The backend of the Reds' bullpen is set with Alexis Dìaz and Sam Moll. Fernando Cruz can work high-leverage innings, and the Reds have one of their top prospects (Zach Maxwell) chomping at the bit down at Triple-A. It would be rather surprising if Sims is still on the roster after 6 p.m. ET tonight.

Justin Wilson, Reds LHP

Another reliever who's sure to draw some interest at the MLB trade deadline is Justin Wilson. The lefty struggled with injuries the past two seasons, but he's returned with a vengeance in 2024. Wilson is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 28 innings of work.

Wilson's 4.9 walk-rate is among the best in the league, and he's also struck out 27% of the batters he's faced this season. Wilson's fastball is sitting close to 96 mph and he's inducing weak contact. There are a number of teams who'll be searching for a left-handed reliever for their stretch run.

While giving away Alex Young takes away some of the Reds left-handed depth, Cincinnati still has Moll to anchor the backend of the bullpen. Fellow lefty Reiver Sanmartin has begun a rehab assignment, and there's hope that Brent Suter can return later this season. The Reds also have a trio of southpaws on the Louisville Bats' roster as well.

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