3 possible trade scenarios for Reds outfielder Shogo Akiyama

1. Would the Reds trade Shogo Akiyama to the Yankees?

If the Cincinnati Reds are serious about trading Shogo Akiyama, the odds are good that they'll have to include a prospect in any potential deal. I know that Nick Krall has been adamant about avoiding such a scenario, but that's the cost of doing business.

If there's any team in Major League Baseball who could afford to take on Akiyama's contract, it's the New York Yankees. While the Reds seem to have fleeced the Bronx Bombers in recent years, this would be a situation where the Yankees have the upper hand.

The Reds dealt Shed Long and a draft pick to the Yankees prior to the 2019 season in order to snag right-hander Sonny Gray and left-handed prospect Reiver Sanmartin. Gray went to the All-Star Game in 2019 and has revived his career since arriving in the Queen City.

Sanmartin made his major league debut last season, and there's chance that the southpaw will be part of the Cincinnati starting rotation in 2022. Sanmartin will be in a hotly contested battle with Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo for that coveted last spot in the rotation.

While the Yankees have a loaded outfield with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Joey Gallo, and Aaron Hicks, New York did decline Brett Gardner's option earlier this offseason. While $8M is a lot to pay a rotational outfielder, if the Yanks received a mid-tier prospect in return, it might be worth it.