3 Reds top prospects who should be trade candidates and 2 who should be off limits

Reds top prospect who should be trade candidate: Sal Stewart, 3B

This selection, just like Edwin Arroyo, is likely to draw a lot of negative comments from the Cincinnati Reds fanbase. As was mentioned earlier with Arroyo, the only way Cincinnati should part ways with Sal Stewart is if it nets them a longer-term solution in the starting rotation or the outfield.

Stewart was selected with the Reds Competitive Balance pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, so the 19-year-old has barely spent a year within the organization. But despite his short stint in the Reds farm system, Stewart has already made an impact with his bat.

Stewart is hitting .271/.390/.416 at Low-A Daytona and has more walks than strikeouts. Stewart is a bat-first prospect who has plenty of raw power. The right-hander hitter has eight round trippers for the Daytona Tortugas this season.

However, Stewart is extremely limited defensively. While last year's No. 32 overall pick has enough arm strength to hold down the hot corner, he lack the speed and athletic ability you'd like to see from your third baseman.

Sal Stewart has seen the majority of his Low-A starts as the Tortugas third baseman (36), but has had plenty of starts as the team's designated hitter (26) as well. Stewart's longterm future may be at first base.

If the Cincinnati Reds want to add impact players at this year's trade deadline, it's likely going to require parting ways with some of the organization's top prospects. Some lower-level prospects may be on the trade block as well, but the acquisition may not be as effective.