The Reds should make this trade with shortstop-needy Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in deep need of a shortstop. After losing Corey Seager and Trea Turner over the last two offseasons, LA lost would-be starter Gavin Lux to a torn ACL before the 2023 season began.

The Dodgers now have even bigger problems after Miguel Rojas, who only supposed to be a part-time player, landed on the IL with a hamstring injury. Things are so bad that according to Los Angeles Times reporter Mike DiGiovanna, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is considering playing Mookie Betts at shortstop.

Hamstring injuries tend to linger - just as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India. It wouldn't be surprising if Andrew Friedman picked up the phone and started calling his fellow baseball executives in search of a replacement. Perhaps Nick Krall would have just what Friedman's looking for.

The Reds should make a trade with shortstop-needy Dodgers.

The Cincinnati Reds have one too many shortstops within the organization. Honestly, you could make the argument that they have two too many. Regardless, it's time to thin the herd, and Kevin Newman may be actually be a good match for the shortstop-needy Los Angeles Dodgers.

Newman is actually from Poway, California which is just south of Los Angeles, so it's doubtful you'd heat too much complaining from him. The Reds acquired Newman as insurance during the offseason after trading Kyle Farmer to the Minnesota Twins.

With Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz likely making their way to the big leagues in 2023, the Reds are going to have to make some room sooner rather than later. McLain has been playing well at Triple-A. With Newman acting as little more than a placeholder, the Reds should definitely consider such a deal if presented.

Newman is on a cheap contract ($2.66-million) and under team control through the 2024 season. It would give the Dodgers a veteran infielder who's more than capable of holding down the position. Newman has also hit well against left-handed pitchers throughout his career, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is well-known for exploiting matchups based on a players splits.

The Cincinnati Reds could look for something completely minor in return. It would be no different than the trade Nick Krall pulled off last summer when he shipped Tyler Naquin to the New York Mets. The Reds now have two very young players who've performed quite well in the minor leagues.

Perhaps a young pitching prospect like Justin Wrobleski or Joel Ibarra would be more than enough for the Reds and Dodgers to work out a trade that could be mutually beneficial for both sides.