Reds could unlock the best version of Sal Stewart with one bold move

In no uncertain terms, Sal Stewart is a star in the batter's box. Yes, he's slowed down since a scorching hot start, but a rookie approaching a 30-homer, 100-RBI season with a 114 wRC+ and .810 OPS absolutely belongs in those conversations. Considering he's still only 22 years old, the best is almost certainly yet to come for the Cincinnati Reds' first baseman.

Likewise, we know pretty darn well by now that Ke'Bryan Hayes isn't a good hitter. Batting below .150 with a 20 wRC+ this season, he's practically become an automatic out at the bottom of the Reds lineup, even if some advanced metrics suggest he deserves better. And with his 30th birthday less than six months away, it's probably time to give up on the dream that he'll ever be a league-average hitter in Cincinnati.

What do these two facts have to do with each other? Well, what if I told you that Stewart is actually the clear-cut heir apparent to Hayes at third base, and the Reds could start making that transition as soon as next year?

Sal Stewart's bat more than makes up for the defensive gap if the Reds move him to third base

Stewart will always derive most of his value from his bat, but he's more than capable of handling the hot corner. In fact, he actually came up through the minor leagues as a third baseman, and played just 17 innings at first base before debuting in the big leagues; which only happened after the Reds acquired Hayes at last year's trade deadline.

With more than 1,000 innings of data in the field in the big leagues now, one can comfortably say that he's a solid defender, but not much more. He's accrued 1 OAA and 1 DRS apiece at first, while offering exactly net-neutral value (i.e., zero OAA/DRS) at third.

The thing is, being an All-Star-caliber hitter at third base is far more valuable than being one at first; the latter position is known for its offensive titans, while the latter can range from MVP candidates like Junior Caminero to, well, Hayes. Flashing elite leather at the hot corner is an excellent way to make a living, but not at the cost of far better production in the lineup.

By shifting Stewart back to his original defensive home, the Reds would not only get an immediate upgrade at one spot on the depth chart, but they'd also open up first base for another slugger to get regular starts. They deployed that strategy to great effect with Nathaniel Lowe earlier this year, and it stands to reason they can maintain that success with another first baseman in the future. Perhaps Spencer Steer?

Because of the remaining money on his contract, Hayes might still be around in 2027, giving the Reds an out on this experiment if they want Stewart to stick at first and focus exclusively on improving his offensive game. But so long as he's capable of handling both spots, it'd be foolish not to take this free, built-in chance to improve the lineup.

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