Should the Reds be lurking after Diamondbacks trade quietly blocked a young talent?

A proven yet cost-effective bat is what is lacking from the Cincinnati Reds lineup, but unfortunately, those things don't grow on trees. For the most part, any cheap but productive hitter is still under team control, and clubs aren't exactly lining up to give those sorts of assets away.

That's led to a lot of speculation about buy-low candidates, underachievers, and other poor fits to solve the Red's needs. But what if Cincinnati thought about this conundrum in a different way, and was willing to roll the dice on an unproven youngster with a mountain of talent?

The St. Louis Cardinals-Arizona Diamondbacks trade that sent Nolan Arenado to the desert might have presented that sort of opportunity, as former top prospect Jordan Lawlar is blocked. Yet again.

The Diamondbacks and Reds line up nicely for a trade involving hotshot Jordan Lawlar

Lawlar is still just 23-years-old and topped out at No. 11 on MLB Pipeline's top-100 prospect list. He's not just a youngster with potential, but instead was one of the shiniest gems in all of baseball. The problem is, he has no place to play.

Arizona has officially taken Ketel Marte off the trade block, confirming that the superstar second baseman will be with the Diamondbacks in 2026. If nothing changes, Marte is under contract through 2030 and figures to be with the Snakes for a long time.

In addition to Marte, breakout star Geraldo Perdomo is locked up through 2029. The 26-year-old just put up an eye-popping 7.1 fWAR campaign, and will handle shortstop now and in the future. Add in Arenado, whose contract runs through the end of next season, and there's nowhere for Lawlar to play.

The young infielder has been used primarily as an injury replacement, racking up just 108 big league plate appearances over 42 games since 2024. In that time, he's slashed a dreary .165/.241/.237. The inconsistent playing time certainly hasn't helped, and if the Diamondbacks continue down this path with him, they risk stunting his development and crushing any value he may have.

Lawlar's performance in the minors has been a completely different beast. In 63 games for Triple-A Reno last season, he slashed .313/.403/.564 with 11 homers and 20 steals, showcasing his power, speed, and plate discipline. It's reasonable to expect these skills to shine through in the bigs with regular opportunities.

The D-backs' move for Arenado signals they are serious about contending, but they have some serious holes in their starting rotation. Ace Corbin Burnes will be on the shelf for most or all of 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June, leaving the returning Merrill Kelly and Ryne Nelson to headline the rotation. Kelly is 37, and Nelson has just one year of real production under his belt.

The rest of the rotation, including Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Michael Soroka. Both Rodriguez and Pfaadt had ERAs over five last season, and Soroka wasn't much better with a 4.52 mark, and comes with a lengthy injury history.

Fortunately, the Reds have a surplus of cheap starters they can dangle to solve Arizona's issue. Brady Singer might be the ideal option, but he alone as an expiring contract might not be enough to get a deal done. Instead, Cincinnati could capitalize on the fact that starters with team control remaining have gone for absolute hauls this season.

Even flawed ones, like Ryan Weathers, who was traded to the Yankees for four prospects, have generated impressive trade returns. Nick Lodolo might command more than just Lawlar in return, but he'd be the ideal add for Arizona. Other options exist as well.

Lawlar doesn't exactly fit in Cincinnati's crowded infield — even after trading Gavin Lux — but his talent is worth trying to find a creative solution. Could that mean moving Elly De La Cruz to the outfield and letting Lawlar take over short? Sounds extreme, but it might be the best possible solution. Other options would be using Lawlar as a superutility man, giving him run and second, short, and third, as well as DH days.

The Reds need offensive talent above all else, and they can figure out the logistics later. Lawlar could be part of the core for years to come, and that's worth paying up for.