Predicting 3 different outcomes for 3 different Reds stars in 2022

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There is so much intrigue surrounding the Cincinnati Reds these days. The team got out to a horrific start, but appears to have righted the ship. While they may not be contending for the National League pennant, the Reds have at least become more competitive in recent weeks.

Cincinnati will be one of the more interesting teams to follow as the trade deadline approaches. We're a little over two months away, and the rumblings have already began. With the Reds poised to be sellers, opposing GMs will be calling Nick Krall early and often this summer.

Now, just because the Cincinnati Reds are out of the playoff race doesn't necessarily mean a fire the organization should commit to a fire sale. There are plenty of good players that could help Cincinnati contend in the future. With that in mind, who is one player the Reds should trade, one player they should keep, and one player the team should build around?

The Reds should build around catcher Tyler Stephenson.

Let's get the easy one out of the way first. The Cincinnati Reds have a number of talented, young players on their roster. Jonathan India, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo all have the look a player that Cincinnati can build their team around.

But when it comes right down to it, the player the Reds should build around is catcher Tyler Stephenson. While the other three will be key Cincinnati's success as well, Stephenson is the straw that stirs the drink.

The 25-year-old plays one of the most important, if not the most important positions on the field. He's a leader in the clubhouse and on the field. While some, myself included, see Stephenson eventually making the switch from catcher to first base, that talks seems to have quieted down of late.

Tyler Stephenson might be the best offensive-minded catcher in the National League, though I'm sure Will Smith and J.T. Realmuto would disagree. While Stephenson may not be the face of the franchise moving forward, he is vital to the Reds success moving forward.

The Reds should trade pitcher Luis Castillo.

The writing is on the wall with this one. Luis Castillo will be one of the most sought-after pitchers at the trade deadline this summer and the Cincinnati Reds front office would be foolish not to take the best offer possible for their ace.

The future of the Cincinnati starting rotation does not have Luis Castillo in it. After seeing Graham Ashcraft, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo make their major league debuts this season, the Reds have a good, young core of starters to build around.

That doesn't even take into consideration Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson, both of whom are likely to end the 2022 season in the Louisville Bats' starting rotation. There's also young hurlers like Joe Boyle and Connor Phillips who will be looking to make some noise next season.

Luis Castillo has made six starts this season and looks to have blown the dust off after beginning the season the IL. Castillo is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA and 34 strikeouts on the season.

The Cincinnati Reds do not seem willing to commit to Castillo over the long haul, and to be quite frank, I don't blame them. Castillo will be 30 years old this winter and it's going to take every bit of seven year commitment to keep the right-hander in the Queen City.

The Reds would be better served to invest in their young talent like Tyler Stephenson, Jonathan India, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Jose Barrero. Throwing $20M-plus per season at Luis Castillo at this point in his career is not the right path for the Cincinnati Reds to take.

The Reds should hang on to pitcher Tyler Mahle.

Tyler Mahle has not gotten off to the best of starts. The Cincinnati Reds Opening Day starter is 2-5 with a 5.43 ERA and just 64 punch outs over 59.2 innings works in his first 12 starts. Mahle has been mentioned as one of the Reds who could change teams prior to the MLB trade deadline, but Cincinnati would be wise to hang onto the right-hander this season.

Now, that doesn't mean that Mahle should be signed to a contract extension during the offseason, though I do think that's something the Reds should consider. But after getting off to such a rough start in 2022, it's highly unlikely Cincinnati will receive much in return if the California native is traded this summer.

Mahle is still just 27 years old and is under team control through next season. The right-hander is taking home $5.2M this season and will receive a raise through arbitration next winter. But whatever Mahle's 2023 salary is, it'll still be considered a bargain for a pitcher that can easily slot as a No. 3 in most rotations throughout the league.

If the Cincinnati Reds had interest in trading Tyler Mahle, the team should have done so this past offseason after the right-hander was coming off his best season. If the Reds dealt Mahle now, they'd be selling low on the Westminster High School product.

With so many rookie starters in Cincinnati's stable, the Reds front office would do well to enter next spring with Mahle as the team's veteran starter. If a team emerges over the winter with an offer than the Reds front office cannot refuse, so be it. But at this time, the Reds would be best served to ride out the 2022 season with Mahle in their starting rotation.

Next. 3 MiLB pitchers who could straighten out the Reds bullpen. dark

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