Reds suddenly have a massive trade opening after Mets land Bo Bichette

The Cincinnati Reds just shipped Gavin Lux out of town in order to upgrade their bullpen. But with the New York Mets mega-deal for Bo Bichette, Cincinnati now has a chance to address their biggest need of the offseason — the lineup.

Bichette reportedly agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets. New York already added free agent infielder Jorge Polano and traded for second baseman Marcus Semien earlier this winter, and with Francisco Lindor firmly entrenched at shortstop, Bichette is likely to take over at third base.

That means the Mets will likely be shopping at least one of Mark Vientos or Brett Baty. With Lux off to Tampa Bay, either player would be a fine fit on the Reds roster, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see president of baseball operations Nick Krall place a call with Mets' top executive David Stearns.

Mets deal for Bo Bichette opens the door for the Reds to trade for Mark Vientos or Brett Baty

Vientos and Baty are not without their flaws, but they fit exactly what the Reds are looking for. Both players are pre-arbitration eligible and bring more than enough pop to the lineup. Vientos clobbered 17 home runs in 2025 and was among the 89th percentile in hard-hit rate. Baty mashed 18 round-trippers of his own and posted a career-best 111 OPS+.

The Mets would likely be seeking pitching in return for either player, and it just so happens to be the one area of the Reds roster that's ripe with talent. Though Cincinnati's brass has resisted the urge to trade from their rotation this offseason, it may the only way to improve the lineup.

The top three arms in the Reds rotation — Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo — are said to be off limits, but there've been plenty of rumors surrounding Brady Singer, and it's conceivable that Cincinnati could look to move one of Brandon Williamson, Rhett Lowder, or Chase Petty as well.

After trading Lux, the Reds shed about $3 million from the team's payroll heading into the upcoming season, so free agency is always an option. But the Reds and Mets would seem to be logical trade partners, and New York's deal for Bichette makes it all the more likely.