Checking in on former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker

The Cincinnati Reds traded Jesse Winker along with Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners this offseason. The move was quite unpopular among the Reds fanbase, but to this point, Winker's replacement has had a much better start to the 2022 season.

The Redlegs replaced Winker with former San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham. Pham signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati after the Reds traded the pair of fan-favorites to the Mariners. After struggling during his first week-plus of the 2022 season, Pham seems to have making strides of late.

Jesse Winker has struggled since being traded from the Reds.

While Tommy Pham seems to be catching on with his new team, the same cannot be said for former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker. While the left fielder has continued to maintain a good eye at the plate (12.0% walk-rate), he's yet to find that power stroke that saw him find his way onto the NL All-Star team in 2022.

Winker is hitting just .217/.309/.303 and, according to FanGraphs, has a wRC+ of just 88. Last season with the Reds, Winker hit .305/.394/.556 with a career-high wRC+ of 148.

One thing Jesse Winker has done well this season, to this point, is still healthy. That's always been something that has alluded Winker throughout his Reds career. Winker never eclipsed 120 games played during his time in the Queen City.

The talent is still there, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities for Winker to snap out of his funk and tap back into his power. The Seattle Mariners still have this season and next to decide if they want to see the Buffalo native to a long-term contract.

Winker expressed appreciation for the Mariners' willingness to put together a winning product on the field. However, the M's are currently eight games under .500 and in fourth-place in the very difficult American League West.

It's much too early to declare a winner or a loser in the offseason trade between the Cincinnati Reds and the Seattle Mariners. The Reds received pitching prospects Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips as part of the return for Winker and Suárez, so the jury is still out on who won this particular trade.