The Reds have a few weaknesses even though the team enters play tonight eleven games over .500. They could use a boost in left field before Ryan Ludwick returns, and relief pitching is always a need for any team in contention. Below are some potential targets for the Reds as members of MLB teams' front offices begin to convene in order to get deals done.
Alex Gordon-Gordon is probably the best player on this list, and although it has taken him years of development, Gordon has become an extremely dangerous hitter in the AL. Gordon has been in the big leagues since 2007, and has hit close to or above .300 since 2011. Gordon is currently hitting .293 with nine homers and forty-eight RBI's. He also has a .360 OBP. The only knock on Gordon is his tendency to rack up the strikeouts over the course of the season. He has 140 and 139 strikeouts over the last to seasons respectively. Gordon also plays a solid left field, and would command some top level prospects on the Reds' part. Gordon is signed through 2016 and is making over $10 million until he is a free agent. A package of Ryan Ludwick along with Kyle Lotzkar and Nick Travieso could get a deal done.
Colby Rasmus-The former Cardinal now mans center field for the struggling Blue Jays. Rasmus is certainly one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, and a deal for the twenty-six year old could move Shin-Soo Choo to left, a more natural position for him. Rasmus is one of the more affordable options that could be up for trade, and certainly would command some solid prospects because of his age and ability to hit consistently. The lefty hits .250 with sixteen home runs and an OBP of .324. His power makes him an upgrade over Xavier Paul and Derrick Robinson. Rasmus also has forty-eight RBI's.
Alexei Ramirez-Ramirez has the ability to stabilize the shortstop position hitting wise in the number two spot in the order. He is signed for three more years, so the White Sox would have to take on one of the Reds' large contracts or give money to the Reds in a deal. Ramirez has always been a steady AL shortstop, never allowing his average to dip below .265 for the White Sox. His power numbers have receded dramatically over the past two years. Ramirez hit twenty-one homers his rookie year and never hit below fifteen until 2012. A deal for Ramirez could be very difficult to work out, but it might be worth it to provide a respected veteran approach to playing the shortstop position everyday.
Marlon Byrd-Byrd is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He has bounced around six teams in his eleven year career. Byrd made the All Star team in 2010 and finished that year hitting .293 with the Cubs. Byrd is off to his best start power wise in his career with the New York Mets. He is batting .266 and has clubbed thirteen homers as one of the few bright spots on the team. Byrd is making under $1 million this season on a one year contract, and wouldn't be too hard to acquire through trade. I think it would be worth making a deal because Byrd has proven to be slightly better than Xavier Paul throughout his career, not to mention in a much longer time period. Ryan LaMarre could headline a package to get a deal done.
Steve Delabar-Delabar is one of the most interesting stories out of the candidates to make this year's All Star team through final vote. Delabar has ties to the area as he is from Kentucky and briefly was on the Florence Freedom's roster. Delabar came out of nowhere to make the Blue Jays' roster this season and pitch lights out, posting a 1.58 ERA in forty innings, and leading league relievers in strikeouts with fifty-seven. Delabar is arbitration eligible until 2018 and is making under $500,000 this season. Dan Langfield and Neftali Soto might be enough for Toronto to let go of Delabar through a trade.
Jesse Crain-Crain has been around since 2004 when he broke into the league with Minnesota, but is having a career year with a .74 ERA and nineteen holds. Crain has only allowed three runs all season long, and would immediately become the Reds' second best right handed reliever behind Jonathan Broxton.
Alex Gordon-Gordon is probably the best player on this list, and although it has taken him years of development, Gordon has become an extremely dangerous hitter in the AL. Gordon has been in the big leagues since 2007, and has hit close to or above .300 since 2011. Gordon is currently hitting .293 with nine homers and forty-eight RBI's. He also has a .360 OBP. The only knock on Gordon is his tendency to rack up the strikeouts over the course of the season. He has 140 and 139 strikeouts over the last to seasons respectively. Gordon also plays a solid left field, and would command some top level prospects on the Reds' part. Gordon is signed through 2016 and is making over $10 million until he is a free agent. A package of Ryan Ludwick along with Kyle Lotzkar and Nick Travieso could get a deal done.
Colby Rasmus-The former Cardinal now mans center field for the struggling Blue Jays. Rasmus is certainly one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, and a deal for the twenty-six year old could move Shin-Soo Choo to left, a more natural position for him. Rasmus is one of the more affordable options that could be up for trade, and certainly would command some solid prospects because of his age and ability to hit consistently. The lefty hits .250 with sixteen home runs and an OBP of .324. His power makes him an upgrade over Xavier Paul and Derrick Robinson. Rasmus also has forty-eight RBI's.
Alexei Ramirez-Ramirez has the ability to stabilize the shortstop position hitting wise in the number two spot in the order. He is signed for three more years, so the White Sox would have to take on one of the Reds' large contracts or give money to the Reds in a deal. Ramirez has always been a steady AL shortstop, never allowing his average to dip below .265 for the White Sox. His power numbers have receded dramatically over the past two years. Ramirez hit twenty-one homers his rookie year and never hit below fifteen until 2012. A deal for Ramirez could be very difficult to work out, but it might be worth it to provide a respected veteran approach to playing the shortstop position everyday.
Marlon Byrd-Byrd is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He has bounced around six teams in his eleven year career. Byrd made the All Star team in 2010 and finished that year hitting .293 with the Cubs. Byrd is off to his best start power wise in his career with the New York Mets. He is batting .266 and has clubbed thirteen homers as one of the few bright spots on the team. Byrd is making under $1 million this season on a one year contract, and wouldn't be too hard to acquire through trade. I think it would be worth making a deal because Byrd has proven to be slightly better than Xavier Paul throughout his career, not to mention in a much longer time period. Ryan LaMarre could headline a package to get a deal done.
Jesse Crain-Crain has been around since 2004 when he broke into the league with Minnesota, but is having a career year with a .74 ERA and nineteen holds. Crain has only allowed three runs all season long, and would immediately become the Reds' second best right handed reliever behind Jonathan Broxton.
Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot
Cincy Sports Spot
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