Reds painfully obvious trade candidate emerges after first-round 2025 MLB Draft pick

The Cincinnati Reds added yet another shortstop to their farm system during Round 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft. The Reds selected Steele Hall out of Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama with the ninth-overall pick on Sunday night, and that may heavily influence Cincinnati's decision making heading into the final few weeks of July.

The Reds should be looking to buy at the upcoming MLB trade deadline. Heading into the All-Star break, the Reds are sitting at 50-47. Cincinnati is 7½ games back of the division leading Chicago Cubs, but are only 3½ games back of the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

If the Reds are looking to make a splash ahead of the July 31 deadline, selecting Hall in Round 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft may allow Cincinnati to part with at least one of their many talented shortstop prospects — namely Edwin Arroyo.

Reds prospect Edwin Arroyo emerges as trade candidate after Cincy picked Steele Hall in the 2025 MLB Draft pick

Arroyo has fallen out of favor with the Reds of late. A shoulder injury in 2024 and somewhat mediocre play at Double-A this season have raised questions about his future with the organization. Arroyo is hitting .274/.336/.346 with just one home run and 27 RBI with the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Throw in the fact that Cincinnati has both Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain occupying the middle infield at the big league level, along with Sammy Stafura, Leo Balcazar, and Tyson Lewis all making strides in the minor leagues, and you can see how Arroyo has suddenly become expendable.

There were already whispers earlier this season that Arroyo's name came up in trade talks for Luis Robert Jr. Those conversations, however, never materialized into an actual deal, and both Arroyo and Robert are still with their respective clubs.

Arroyo has always been viewed as a glove-first shortstop prospect, and is arguably the best infield defender in the Reds organization. But with the recent selection of Hall, plus Cincinnati's shortstop depth in the major and minor leagues, Arroyo could become a trade deadline causality this summer as Cincinnati looks to bolster its roster for a playoff push.

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