3 players the Reds wish were still on their roster

Hindsight is always 20/20. It's easy to look back on a decision that you made last year or even last week and think to yourself, "Man, I wish I didn't do that." Well, if it happens to you and I, it most certainly happens to baseball executives as well. Which players do the Cincinnati Reds wish were still on the roster right now?

Whether it was a trade that didn't go your way or a player that you allowed to enter free agency only to see him go on and have an outstanding season or career, as a general manager, you just hope to have more hits than swings and misses.

The oft-criticized Cincinnati front office has made its fair share of blunders by either by trading away talented young prospects, or not re-signing some key free agents. Which three players do the Reds wish they still had on their roster or in their farm system?

1. Josiah Gray, Former Reds pitching prospect

Josiah Gray has now been traded twice his career, but this time, I think he's found a permanent home in our nation's capital. Gray was a key piece of the trade that earlier this summer sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to Los Angeles. But, before he was a National, or even a Dodger, Gray was part of the Cincinnati Reds farm system.

Gray was originally drafted with the 72nd overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, the same year that Jonathan India was taken in the first round. Gray was packaged with another top prospect, shortstop Jeter Downs, and was shipped to LA in exchange for Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, and Kyle Farmer. As it turns out, Farmer is the only player left from that deal.

Gray made his major league debut this season, first for the Dodgers and then for the Nats. While he went just 2-2 with a 5.48 ERA, the talent is there and the right-hander is expected to be a big part of Washington's starting rotation moving forward.

At the time, the Reds front office was focused on moving on from Homer Bailey, who was unceremoniously dumped by LA shortly after the trade was made. Farmer was the best thing to come out of that trade, though he's little more than a role player. And yes, I love Kyle Farmer and couldn't imagine what this year's team would have looked like without him.

While the Cincinnati Reds may have a very deep rotation at the moment, Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle are only under team control for two more seasons and Sonny Gray and, most likely Wade Miley, will be free agents after next season. Pairing Josiah Gray with Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Vladimir Gutierrez would've given the Redlegs an imposing young rotation for years to come.

3. José Siri, Former Reds outfield prospect

This one stings. José Siri was supposed was supposed to be the Cincinnati Reds' future in the outfield. The Reds signed Siri as an international free agent in 2012 and the 17-year-old made his professional debut the following season in the Dominican Summer League.

Siri fought and clawed his way up the ranks of Cincinnati's farm system, all the while relying on his athletic ability to carry him. The super-toolsy outfielder had above-average speed, power, a solid arm, and unfortunately, a lot of swings and misses in his bat.

It's hard to be mad at the Reds for moving on from José Siri when they did. I mean how much longer were they supposed to wait? After finally making his way to Triple-A in 2019, Siri hit just .186 and posted a 34.8% strikeout-rate for the Bats in 112 at-bats. The decision was made for the team to designate Siri for assignment.

Eventually, the Seattle Mariners picked up the then-23-year-old off waivers. Siri was waived by the M's, and then signed by the San Francisco Giants before the 2020 season. Siri didn't appear in a single game for the Giants, was outrighted, and didn't sign until this past offseason when the 25-year-old agreed to a minor-league deal with the Houston Astros.

Siri tore it up for the Astros' Triple-A affiliate this season. He played 98 games for the Sugar Land Skeeters and hit .318/.369/.552 with 16 home runs and 72 RBIs. Siri then made his big league debut this season for the Astros and straight-up mashed. Siri hit .304/.347/.608 in 21 games.

With Nick Castellanos likely on his way out of Cincinnati and Nick Senzel having struggled to stay healthy, having an outfield prospect like José Siri would be greatly appreciated right now. As it is, the Reds cannot rely on Senzel to stay healthy and will have a huge void in the middle of their lineup if Castellanos bolts this winter. The Reds really could have used José Siri.