3 players the Reds could target in trade talks with the Rays

3. The Reds could target Rays RHP Shawn Armstrong in a trade.

Shawn Armstrong pitched very well for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022. After previously pitching for the then-Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles, Armstrong began last season with the Miami Marlins but was let go about a month later and picked up by Tampa Bay.

After being added to the Rays' 40-man roster at the end of May, the right-hander put up some terrific numbers coming out of the Tampa Bay bullpen. Armstrong recorded 61 punch outs in 55 innings of work and owned a 3.60 ERA.

Armstrong is a bit long in the tooth at 32 years of age, but still has two years of team control remaining. However, Armstrong is out of minor league options and is owed a raise through arbitration this offseason, so there's obvious risk that would come by adding a reliever whose career-fWAR is just 0.5.

Still, Cincinnati is desperate for relief help, and one would have to think that a veteran pitcher like Shawn Armstrong would offer better than what the Reds received from Hunter Strickland in 2022.

The Cincinnati Reds will be looking to find ways to improve the ball club his offseason through trades and minor league contracts. The 2023 season is about building for the future, so any addition the Reds front office may look to make should include the ability to keep that player on the roster through at least 2024.