The Cincinnati Reds are in a weird spot in the 2024 season. They have had a ton of injuries to key pieces to the current lineup and the future plans going forward. Matt McLain had surgery and could potentially return for the last month or so of the season. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had wrist surgery and will miss the rest of the season. TJ Friedl has been on and off the IL and could return in a week or so. The main question for this year is this, do you buy or sell? As of July 2th the Reds are 50-53 and are tied for last in the NL Central, but are only 4 games out of a Wild Card spot. I will lay out a few buy and sell options.

Buy: Outfielder Brent Rooker from Oakland

Oakland is 15 games out of a playoff spot and could look to cut ties with assets. Rooker still has 3 years of team control and is really budding into a solid power threat so the time might be now to get maximum return for the 29 year old. If the Reds are going to go after Rooker, it would take at least 2 top 30 prospects to get him. A scenario for me would be trading Lyon Richardson, Blake Dunn and a young pitcher like Connor Phillips or Ty Floyd to Oakland for Brent Rooker. Rooker fills a lot of needs for Cincinnati. 3 years of team control, a power right handed bat and he’s an outfielder. Rooker is target number 1 for me.

Buy: Outfielder Luis Robert Jr

Luis Robert Jr is currently under contract with the White Sox through the 2025 season with a team option for ‘26. Robert has good power to all fields and plays a very good centerfield. It would take a lot to get Robert and I don’t really think the Reds would try to. If I were in position to make a move and was going all in, Robert is a piece that is young and would fit in with this clubhouse. I believe Luis Robert would thrive hitting in Great American Ball Park. The White Sox would most likely want Edwin Arroyo(#2 prospect), Sal Stewart(#4) and Chase Petty(#6) in return.

Buy: 1B/DH, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Blue Jays have said they do not intend to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this trade deadline but let’s kick some tires. Vlady would put up monster numbers playing in Cincinnati 82 games a year. I imagine a lineup of Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Vladimir Guerrero Jr as the first 4 in the batting order putting up unbelievable numbers. Vlady has another season of team control in Toronto and recently had his arbitration signed at almost $20 million. He’s having sort of a down year but is still hitting .299 with 18 home runs. Toronto would get a haul back for Vlady. The Reds would most likely have to move at least 3 top 30 prospects if not 4. Chase Petty, Sal Stewart, Carlos Jorge and Ty Floyd probably still wouldn’t be enough to get Vlad.

Sell: Jonathan India

Jonathan India may be finally starting to get it figured out after having back to back subpar years following his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2021. India is batting .271 with 8 home runs, .374 on base percentage and an OPS+ of 120. India has been relying more on just putting the ball in play and letting the ball go where it needs to be, instead of trying to hit more home runs. If the Reds aren’t going to have India in their future plans, now might be the best time to move on. India signed a 2 year deal to avoid arbitration. He will earn $5 million next year so he would be affordable to a potential suitor. Rumored teams looking for a second baseman are the Yankees, Mariners, Blue Jays, Tigers and Red Sox. It would be interesting to see the return India could get after a scorching hot June and more consistent play.

Sell: Frankie Montas

Frankie Montas signed a 1 year deal this past off season for $14 million with a mutual option for 2025 for $20 million with a $2 million buyout. If I’m the Reds, I try to move on from Montas, but only if the price is right. Frankie Montas has had some really good starts this season, two off the top of my head are opening day and at Coors field in June. The going rate for pitchers are very high so there’s a chance the Reds could get a decent prospect in return, but I wouldn’t get rid of Montas just to get rid of him. He is fresh off of shoulder surgery and this is his first full season back. If he doesn’t perform well later in the season, I buy out of the contract for $2 million and decline the mutual option.

Sell: Alexis Diaz

Alexis Diaz is not having his best season this year. Diaz has a career ERA of just 2.90 and 1.17 WHIP and 204 strikeouts in 168 games. This year his ERA is up to 4.46, but it was worse. He had an 8.68 ERA in May. Recently he has got it down. June saw it at 2.00 and July is 3.00. Diaz is 20 for 22 in save opportunities this year. He has been reliable, but inconsistent. Diaz’s out pitch is his slider, but his fastball is a little wild. If Diaz isn’t hitting his spots with the fastball, batters sit on his slider and then he gets into trouble. Teams are always looking for back of the bullpen help so Diaz could get a good return.

Photo Credit; X, CBS 17, Blue Jays Nation, CBS Sports, Dayton 247Now

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