Sell?

[RedTeamGo!]

We can all read the standings, the reds are one of the worst teams in the NL and the gap is widening in both the division and wild card. The team has suffered key injuries and the backups are, well, backups. Castillo being the worst starting in pitcher in MLB is the cherry on top. Now, sure, the reds could go on a tear and win like 20 of 28 games or something, but if we’re being honest with ourselves that is unlikely. It’s more like the reds continue to lose 2 of 3 games or so as we move deeper into summer. This all adds up to a lost season. Now, I’d prefer not to argue the merits of selling or not, it’s tired. We are nearly to June and the deadline will be here before we know it. I was reading an mlb.com article about the Twins potentially fire selling and their GM, a Billy Beane disciple, was quoted saying Beane always said GM’s should look at the season in 3 chunks: the first two months are where you assess your team, the middle two months are when you make trades and changes to the roster, and the final two months you just sit back and watch how it all plays out. We are almost through the assessment period, and the writing is on the wall.

With that said, IF the reds continue to spiral, who you selling at the deadline?

[Joey Blotto]

I love Winker, but if we can move him to gain some pitching or positional versatility, may be a good time to sell high.

[DocRed]

I'd trade Winker for Jasson or Gleybor...won't happen but fun to speculate. It's what some were suggesting for Luis before his epic season started. Yankees are hurting for Outfielders with Hicks and Stanton both out and Frazier and Gardner putting up weak numbers.

I'd seriously considering moving Castellanos too as the chances he opts out are getting higher and higher by the day. Does he really want to continue to play for a losing organization? Everything he has said while in Cincinnati says no. If he goes to a contender he would be much less likely to opt out IMO.

The Padres are another team that could use a corner outfielder as they have been running out a pair of throw away Reds in Kivlehan and O'Grady. Tommy Pham has also been awful since coming to SD. I'd do Castellanos for CJ Abrams.

I also think the Reds reluctance to trade Castillo in the offseason may push the team to strike while the iron is hot.

[klw]

I'd keep Winker but if there is no turnaround then Castellanos is likely on the block. Any pitcher on the MLB staff not named Mahle or Antone can also likely be had but no selling low on Gray or Castillo.

[0-2 Count]

Winker is the one position player you don't trade.

[RedTeamGo!]

Winker is the one position player you don't trade.

I tend to agree, but to play devils advocate: if the reds were being ran by someone like Billy Beane this is precisely when he would be traded.

[KronoRed]

I don't trade Winker only because I find it hard to believe they will get any value for him.

[DocRed]

I don't trade Winker only because I find it hard to believe they will get any value for him.

Why not? He's the best hitter in baseball right now and has a career .900 OPS. Plus if he goes to the AL you can always DH him and negate his D. He's also controlled until 2024.

Another team that is looking to add to their outfield seems to be the White Sox. Andrew Vaughn and Jared Kelley for one of our MVP candidates? Probably not enough....they don't have a ton to give in their farm system.

[Humberto]

I don't trade Winker only because I find it hard to believe they will get any value for him.

I’m sorry... what?

[KronoRed]

I find it hard to believe they will get any value for him because they are the Reds and their track record in trades the last half decade is not the best.

[Mitri]

Keep Winker. Hang onto Castillo and Suarez, at least until the winter. Maybe they can regain value as the season plays out.

I would definitely trade Castellanos and Barnhart. Those two are gone in 22 and should bring back good prospects. Hopefully the Reds can eat some of the money left for this season and get better returns.

I would explore trading Gray, especially if he puts together a nice string of ace-like starts in June. I'd also be fine hanging onto Sonny and just moving Miley instead. Reds have to be careful not to put too much reliance on the young arms in the 2nd half of this season and the beginning of 22. Then again, the hope is that some young, controllable pitching will be coming back in trades.

[Rojo Rijo]

I find it hard to believe they will get any value for him because they are the Reds and their track record in trades the last half decade is not the best.

They would get value for him right now. The Reds problem has always been when they trade their vets. They traded Chapman at the absolute worst time, they should've dealt Frazier at the deadline in 2015 but held him until the offseason, they should've dealt Cueto before the 2015 season when he was coming off of an incredible season and had a whole year left on his contract but they held him all the way to the deadline, they should've dealt Disco at the deadline in 2016 when they were one of the worst teams in baseball and Disco was the top SP on the market etc. etc.

[757690]

The question is whether you think the Reds will compete over the next few years or not. If you think they will compete, a soft re-tooling based on who is likely to be gone next season. If you think they will not, then a complete rebuild.

A big fly in the ointment is the CBA expiring after this season. If there is a lockout or strike, all of this is moot.

[757690]

I find it hard to believe they will get any value for him because they are the Reds and their track record in trades the last half decade is not the best.

Well, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler are both still playing. It would take a multiple team trade, but they could get them both for Winker if they tried.

[Strikes Out Looking]

I'd sell the ownership group.