Trying to come up with an offseason/ lockout game to keep engaged and thought up this half-baked idea.
One deal at a time, let's remake the Cincinnati Reds into a contender.
Rules:
1. Real world possible trades only, please. Let's assume other teams understand the value of their players. No Trout-for-Friedl silliness.
2. Because these trades are set in the real world, salary constraints have to be observed. While it's possible that Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Matt McLain might net you Bryce Harper, the imbalanced salaries make it remarkably unlikely. Try to keep salaries within a million or so of each other.
3. This is meant to engender conversation. One trade per poster only. Talk about the other hypothetical deals. Explain why they're unlikely. Or explain why you like them.
4. No Joey Votto trades. Dude has a no-trade clause in his back pocket. He's expensive and old. He's played his whole career thus far in a Red uniform. Assume Castellini has made him intouchable. Find another deal.
First Deal:
Cincinnati Reds trade 2B/ 3B Mike Moustakas and AA CF Lorenzo Cedrola for RP Craig Kimbrel.
Why it Works for Cincinnati: I don't know if you're aware, but the Reds don't have a closer. In fact, you could argue that the current iteration of the Cincinnati relief corps is the most bereft of closer candidates of any squad in baseball. Art Warren and Tony Santillan-- one year ago, AAA question marks both-- are the most successful candidates available. Then there's Lucas Sims, who spit the bit last year when given the chance. So Kimbrel becomes the unquestioned closer. This allows the aforementioned triumverate of decent arms (plus Cessa and perhaps Wilson and Garrett) to form a 'pen that actually makes a bit of sense. Of course, there's some worry here, as Kimbrel was absolutely torched on the South Side. He's been really, really bad in 2020 and in limited innings for the Sox after being dominant in the first four months of the season for the Cubs. But the payoff could be substantial. And it's not like it's costing a bunch: Moustakas is blocked at both of his primary positions and looks to be part of a three-headed monster for the infield corners and DH-- assuming the DH is actually the plan for the National League.
Cedrola is the price for the extra $2M Moustaks is owed in 2023. While the Reds are short on CF, he's considered a secondary or tertiery property, not unlike TJ Friedl. But he has a hit tool and may prove valuable as a fourth or fifth OF in 2023 behind Robert and the other White Sox OF corps.
Why it Works for Chicago: Kimbrel was a colossal failure as a relief acquisition last year. His ERA 5.09 ERA in 24 games wasn't a fluke either. He was hit early and often. As a result, Chicago went out and grabbed free agent Kendall Graveman to go along with holdovers Liam Hendriks, Jose Ruiz, Michael Kopech, Aaron Bummer, and Jared Crochet to make the Sox 'pen six deep with pitchers who are likely to be as good or better than Kimbrel. In short, he's an expensive extra arm. Chicago is also short a 2B. No, check that. They have three 2B, all of them young and unproven. Typically, the franchise would take the time to pick between them, play each of them a few innings to see who's better, developing them all at the major and AAA level. But the White Sox are going for it. Moustakas provides a more secure option than any of the three would-be Chicago 2B. That's real value for a guy who struggled to stop the bleeding last year and is a real question mark for this season. Especially as it doesn't cost Chicago much of anything in terms of cash. (Kimbrel was already a sunk cost.)
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