Grading each trade the Cincinnati Reds have made post-lockout

Grading the Reds trade with the Twins.

Cincinnati trades RHP Sonny Gray and RHP Francis Peguero to Minnesota for RHP Chase Petty.

The Cincinnati Reds shipped Sonny Gray and Francis Peguero to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for right-handed prospect Chase Petty. This is a trade I can get behind. Yes, Gray was a great pitcher and an even better person, but Petty's upside is huge.

The Reds owed Gray $10.2M this season and the right-hander had a $12M team-option for the 2023 season. Cincinnati was not going to pick up Gray's option, so it made all the sense in the world to trade the right-hander prior to the season.

Plus, the Cincinnati Reds have a bevy of starting pitching prospects who are itching to make their major league debut. Both Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo should find their way onto a major league field this season. Riley O'Brien and Reiver Sanmartin are in the mix as well, and so is Top 10 prospect Graham Ashcraft.

In addition to opening up a spot in the starting rotation, the Redlegs added one of the most electric arms in the minor leagues. The Twins parted with their first-round pick from last season, Chase Petty, and if he develops, the right-hander could be a force in the Cincinnati rotation for years to come.

This may have been an unpopular trade, but I think if fans are able to take the emotion out of it, this one doesn't sting near as much as Cincinnati's deal with Seattle. I'll give the Reds front office a solid B for this trade.

Grade: B