Trade candidate Michael A. Taylor should not be on the Reds radar

As the majority of high-priced free agents have now been plucked, teams are turning their attention toward the trade market in order to improve their ball clubs heading into the 2023 season.

One such team, the Kansas City Royals, are reportedly shopping centerfielder Michael A. Taylor. The 31-year-old is on a relatively cheap contract and will be a free agent after next season.

While the Cincinnati Reds should investigate nearly every potential upgrade to the team's outfield, Taylor doesn't really fit the mold of what the front office is looking for. The Reds should steer clear of a trade for Taylor.

Trade candidate Michael A. Taylor should not be on the Reds radar.

Michael A. Taylor is a fine defensive centerfielder. Taylor was part of the World Champion Washington Nationals in 2019 and won a Gold Glove with the Kansas City Royals in 2021. But the Cincinnati Reds have more than enough defense-first outfielders on the team.

If the Reds are going to enter the trade market in order to bolster their outfield, there should be two areas of focus. Cincinnati needs to find a right-handed hitting outfielder with power to offset the left-handed hitting duo of Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl. The Reds are also looking for a player who has more than just one year left on his current deal.

While it's certainly tempting to think about Taylor roaming the outfield at Great American Ball Park, the same defensive potential exists in outfield prospect Michael Siani. The former fourth-round pick has always been viewed as a glove-over-hit type of player, and Siani will get every chance in spring training to nail down a starting job.

Michael A. Taylor had, by his standards, a very good year for the Kansas City Royals in 2022. While a .670 OPS is nothing overly impressive, Taylor's OPS+ of 90 was his highest since 2017 (105 OPS+). The Royals are hoping to cash in on Taylor's success from last season, but the Cincinnati Reds should avoid the temptation.