3 Reds players whose 40-man roster spot is in jeopardy as the MLB trade deadline approaches

3. Jose Barrero may lose his spot on the Reds 40-man roster.

Once thought to be the team's shortstop of the future, Jose Barrero's time with the Cincinnati Reds may be coming to an end. The club has already tried to fit a square peg into a round hole by moving him all over the diamond, and while he's been serviceable in the outfield, it may finally be time for the Reds to cut ties with Barrero.

Barrero was the Reds Opening Day shortstop, but he still struggled at the plate. While Barrero's defensive skills are second to none, his hit tool leaves a lot to be desired. And in today's game, most teams will not suffer through having a shortstop that provides little to nothing at the dish.

With Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain firmly entrenched on the left side of the infield, the only way the Cincinnati Reds can really move forward with Barrero is by moving him permanently to the outfield. However, all of his minor league starts have come at shortstop.

At this point, the Reds should look to trade Jose Barrero in order to give him an opportunity to latch on with another club. While you can make the argument that Barrero never received a fair shake during his time in Cincinnati, when those opportunities did present themselves, he did little to make the most of them.

Whether he's traded or designated for assignment, don't look for Jose Barrero to be part of the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster after the upcoming MLB trade deadline.