Reds Rumors: Marlins just made ideal trade deadline target available

The Cincinnati Reds may have a golden opportunity to upgrade the outfield at this year's MLB trade deadline. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) outfielder Dane Myers is among the players the Miami Marlins are shopping at the deadline.

Myers is a highly-skilled centerfielder who excels on defense. He's been worth 4 defensive runs saved (DRS) and 4 outs above average (OAA) this season. Though players like Will Benson, Jake Fraley, and Austin Hays are above-average defenders, they're nowhere near the level of Myers.

Myers is also highly effective against left-handed pitching — something the Reds have struggled with this season. On the year, Myers owns a .324/.385/.493 slash line with a .146 wRC+ against southpaws. Having Myers in the lineup against lefties would help Terry Francona better allocate resources, rather than shifting players like Noelvi Marte or Santiago Espinal into the outfield.

Reds Rumors: Marlins just made Dane Myers available at this year's MLB trade deadline

Myers is also under team control for another four years. That would inevitably make the price tag go up, but at 29 years old, the Marlins won't be asking for the moon. Rosenthal mentioned that the Marlins will be unwilling to part with Myers easily, but the presence of top prospect Jakob Marsee in their farm system makes the centerfielder expendable.

The Marlins are clearly rebuilding and the Reds have a plethora of prospects that would undoubtedly be enticing to Miami's front office. Cincinnati has shown an reluctance to part with top prospects like Sal Stewart and Chase Burns, but the Reds should be amenable to include a prospect like Edwin Arroyo, Adam Serwinowski, or even Chase Petty as the centerpiece of a trade for Myers.

The Reds averted disaster earlier this week by avoiding a three-game sweep at the hands of the Washington Nationals. The San Diego Padres lost 2-for-3 to the Marlins, meaning that Cincinnati is still just 2½ games back of the final NL Wild Card spot. Adding a player like Myers — along with a reliever or two at the trade deadline — would go a long way toward thrusting the Reds into the playoff picture.

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