Former Reds slugger likely to be dealt at the deadline, but it shouldn’t be to Cincy

In a career full of peaks and valleys, Jesse Winker enjoyed his best seasons while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. In his five years with the club, Winker hit .288 with 66 home runs, including his All-Star season in 2021 where he hit over .300 with 24 homers. During his time with the Reds, Winker never had an OPS+ below 100.

But Winker was traded prior to the start of the 2022 season and had two brutal campaigns after being shipped out of Cincinnati. Winker ultimately ended up signing a one-year “prove-it” deal with the Washington Nationals this past offseason.

The deal has been better than anyone expected, as Winker has been able to find a level of consistency that has evaded him throughout his career. Winker is hitting .258/.376/.427 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI.

Jesse Winker will likely to be dealt at deadline, but it shouldn’t be to the Reds

While a return to Cincinnati would surely bring some sentimental value to Reds fans, it’s not a wise move. The emergence of Rece Hinds, and Spencer Steer playing left field, limits the number of at-bats that would be available in the outfield. T.J. Friedl is scheduled to return from the IL this month, and regulars Will Benson and Jake Fraley are both (like Winker) left-handed hitters.

Aside from the log jam in the outfield, the Reds find themselves in a precarious situation following a three-game sweep coming out of the All-Star break at the hands of the Nationals. The Reds are sitting in last-place in the NL Central and several games back in the Wild Card chase.

Any moves the Reds make at the deadline should be done with 2025 and beyond in mind, and unfortunately, Winker is a rental. While Winker will always have a soft spot in the hearts of Reds fans, president of baseball operations Nick Krall and the front office need to be realistic about the 2024 season and look to build for the future.

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