3 Reds players still in danger of losing their roster spot at the non-tender deadline

2. The Reds could still non-tender IF Alejo Lopez.

Most Reds fans will not like this scenario, but there's a very real possibility that the Cincinnati front office will non-tender Alejo Lopez ahead of Friday's deadline if it allows the team to sign an additional reliever or starting pitcher.

Lopez played well enough in 2022 to stick over the final month-plus of the season as part of the major league roster. Yo-yo'd between the big leagues and Triple-A Louisville throughout most of the season, the 26-year-old's hot hitting saw him find a niche over the final two month's of his sophomore campaign.

But while Lopez consistently puts the ball in play, there are some aspects of his game that translate well to today's game. According to FanGraphs, Lopez posted a wRC+ of just 76 and his fWAR was 0.0.

While Lopez offers versatility on the defensive side of things, his defense is below-average. Lopez registered -5 defensive runs saved while playing at both second and third base during the 2022 season.

There's also the matter of the redundancy that Alejo Lopez's skillset offers. The addition of Spencer Steer, coupled with the likes of Kyle Farmer, Jose Barrero, and Matt Reynolds might make it difficult for Lopez to find consistent playing time.

The Cincinnati Reds would be wise to hang on to Lopez, as very players on the roster offer the type of bat-to-ball skills of the infielder. However, with the desire for power ever present in today's game, Lopez may find himself non-tendered by Friday.