Reds should trade this former top prospect before reality sets in

The Cincinnati Reds have been very patient with Chase Petty since acquiring him from the Minnesota Twins several years ago. The former first-round pick arrived in Cincinnati prior to the 2022 season in exchange for Sonny Gray, and has spent the majority of his professional career honing his craft in the minor leagues.

Petty has made two Major League appearances this season, and for all intents and purposes, looks miles better than he did just over a year ago. But the right-hander's track record is littered with warning signs, and the Reds would do well to trade Petty while his value is still somewhat high.

The Reds should trade Chase Petty before it's too late

Petty has now pitched in over 100 minor league games, covering more than 450 innings. He's shown the Reds exactly who he is — a spot starter who can provide rotation depth in the minor leagues.

Over his five-plus seasons in the minors, Petty's posted a 4.38 ERA, 4.03 FIP, and a 22.2% strikeout rate. Those aren't the type of numbers that scream big-league starter. In fact, if the Reds truly believe in Petty's raw ability, they'd probably be best served to move him into the bullpen.

Petty's name has been whispered about in trade rumors for several years now. But with five Major League appearances under his belt, opposing teams have gotten a glimpse of what Petty looks like against big-league competition. The results have been anything but impressive, and while his 8.26 ERA isn't a fair representation of his overall ability, it's certainly taken some of the shine off the once-promising Reds' prospect.

The Reds have a bad habit of acquiring or drafting a high-end talent, but then instead of looking at the numbers that are staring them directly in the face, Cincinnati's front office clings to the player's historically hopeful status. They can't afford to do that with Petty.

The Reds have an abundance of pitching depth within the organization. While it's often been said that you can never have enough starting pitching, that argument holds little wisdom if the pitchers bring little more than a healthy arm to the table.

Petty is still just 23 years old, has minor league options remaining, and a first-round pedigree with little to no injury history. There are a number of teams who'll look at his track record and think that they can make some adjustments that will turn him from a former top-100 prospect into an All-Star caliber arm. If the opportunity arises, the Reds must take advantage and trade him before he shows his true colors once again.

Petty may well be a future star in this league, but the Reds have gotten little-to-nothing from the right-hander since trading for him over five years ago. It's time for Cincinnati to salvage what they can and perhaps add a future piece that could help them down the line.

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