Like it or not, trading Kyle Farmer was the right move for the Reds

On Friday afternoon, the Cincinnati Reds traded infielder Kyle Farmer to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Casey Legumina.

While this move is likely to be widely criticized by the Cincinnati fanbase, it was necessary for the club and Farmer to part ways. In all honesty, the process began shortly after this summer's trade deadline.

Once Brandon Drury was dealt to the San Diego Padres, the Reds decided to move Farmer from shortstop to third base in order to get Jose Barrero consistent at-bats at the major league level.

Like it or not, trading Kyle Farmer was the right move for the Reds.

Trading Kyle Farmer was not about money, though Bob Castellini will certainly enjoy pocketing an extra $6M. But this move was more about allocating playing time to the younger players within the organization.

In addition to Jose Barrero, the Reds have other infielders like Spencer Steer and Matt McLain who'll be looking to find an increased role with the team in 2023. You've also got the duo of Elly De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte who were just added to the 40-man roster.

Kyle Farmer joins former teammates Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle in Minnesota. The Twins shipped Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels, so it's conceivable that Farmer could return to a utility role with the Twins who have Jose Miranda, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Arraez patrolling the rest of the infield.

The Cincinnati Reds are continuing to remake the roster with an emphasis on getting younger. Outside of Joey Votto and Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati has no guaranteed contracts on the roster heading into next season.

In addition to trading Kyle Farmer, the Reds also non-tendered right-hander Daniel Duarte and outfielder Allan Cerda. Cincinnati's roster now stands at 38 players with a few months remaining until spring training begins.