Trendy Reds' trade target officially off the market after signing contract extension

The Cincinnati Reds got a shot in the arm on Monday after trading for Los Angeles Dodgers' infielder Gavin Lux. But Reds fans will have to set their sights elsewhere in hopes of finding the perfect trade candidate to bolster the team's outfield after Brent Rooker agreed to a new deal with the Athletics.

Rooker inked a five-year, $60 million contract extension with the A's in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. The deal includes an option for a sixth year and escalators that can take the total contract north of $90 million. That appears to be quite the team-friendly deal for the Athletics, a franchise in limbo who'll spend the next three seasons in Sacramento before settling in Las Vegas.

Trendy Reds' trade target, Brent Rooker, officially off the market after signing contract extension with Athletics

This is the second big-time deal the A's have agreed to this offseason. Prior to extending Rooker, the Athletics lured free agent pitcher Luis Severino to Sacramento with a three-year, $67 million contract. After years of crying poor while playing in Oakland, suddenly the A's are spending money this offseason.

This will be a disappointing end for a number of Reds' fans who'd been hoping to see Cincinnati swing a deal for the A's slugger. Rooker is exactly the type of player the Reds need after displaying massive pop from the right side of the batters' box the past two seasons. Rooker mashed 39 homers while posting a .927 OPS in 2024, and was tops in a number of advanced metrics like expected slugging percentage and barrel rate.

With Rooker officially off the market, the Reds can turn their attention to other free agent fits and potential trade targets. The addition of Lux all but solidifies, but adding a free agent like Jurickson Profar, Randal Grichuk, or Kevin Pillar would help boost Cincinnati's lineup heading into the upcoming season. Names like Jake McCarthy, Luis Robert Jr. and Miguel Andujar, are still available on the trade market as well.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors