Reds are 'aggressively pursuing' shopping their shortstop prospects in search of outfield help

Let the Reds rumors begin. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required), a rival executive of the Reds claims that Cincinnati is aggressively pursuing trades in which they work off their surplus of shortstop prospects to acquire outfielders with similar upside.

This is a way for the Cincinnati Reds to kill two birds with one stone. The Redlegs could offload one of their many shortstop/ middle infield prospects in exchange for a position that desperately needs an upgrade.

Among Cincinnati's Top 5 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, four of them are shortstops. Trading a player like Matt McLain or Edwin Arroyo would be a great way for the Reds to address the team's gaping hole in the outfield.

Reds rumors suggest Cincinnati is shopping some of their SS prospects.

These latest Reds rumors should excite the Cincinnati fanbase. It would seem that rather than attempting to transform Matt McLain or Elly De La Cruz into a centerfielder, the Cincinnati Reds will look to trade one of the talented, young middle infield prospects.

Now, Reds fans should take a deep breath and understand that De La Cruz is almost assuredly not part of these discussions. Of all the prospects throughout the Cincinnati farm system, De La Cruz is the most untouchable. Noelvi Marte is probably in that category as well.

But, prospects like McLain, Edwin Arroyo, and even Spencer Steer could be on the move in the coming weeks if these Reds rumors are to be believed. Steer will be locked in a battle for time at third base in 2023, and McLain could make a run at the Opening Day roster next spring, but Arroyo is likely two years away from making it to The Show.

This should be a breath of fresh air for Reds Country. The last time the Cincinnati Reds made an attempt to shift a talented infield prospect to the outfield (Nick Senzel), it didn't work out so well. This is less risky approach on the part of the Reds front office.