Finders Keepers

[Bourgeois Zee]

The Reds are a team that looks like it has a bright future. The major league club is set up to have several controllable young players with high upside. It also have holes enough that Krall and the Cincinnati braintrust will have to make some deals to improve the odds of competing. Unfortunately, Cincinnati ownership has to be depended on to spend real money-- so intead of a typical deal, wherein the acquiring team might use cash as a tool in the acquisition, the Reds will almost assuredly use player capital to assuage the cost of new help.

That means several young guys might soon leave the Red pipeline.

What minor leaguers do you want to keep away from other GMs?

While they're not untouchable (because every prospect should technically be available), who are you loathe to give up?

Give your entire list, top choice, or some combination thereof.

[Alpha Zero]

Assuming CES gets called up soon, the only remaining “advanced” prospects (at AA and above) of substance are Marte and Phillips. Seems like both guys were very specifically targeted by the Reds in recent trades, so I doubt either gets moved any time soon.

Everyone else is further away and unlikely to bring all that much value in return as a headliner without more seasoning. Guys like Collier, Arroyo, Petty, et al are interesting pieces for sure, but I wouldn’t deal any of them at this time unless the return is pretty overwhelming.

In my mind, now is not the right time for a trade unless blown away. The offense is looking like it could be pretty well set for the next half decade, and while the staff could use help, I’m not willing to overpay for a SP with a couple years of control remaining at the deadline.

Now maybe, if an elite bullpen piece with a some remaining team control is out there and the trading team is willing to take secondary pieces like a Sal Stewart or someone of that ilk, I would consider it. But not for any half measures or “maybe an upgrade if you squint” type lateral moves.

[Alpha Zero]

With all that said, to answer the original question:

Keepers: CES, Marte, Phillips, Petty, Collier, Arroyo

I wouldn’t be super heartbroken to see anyone else go.

[mth123]

Guys I don't want to give up, current minor leaguers only as of today 6-8-2023

CES
Marte
Acuna
Jorge
Rodriguez
Richardson

[medford]

I think a lot of the answer depends on how the Reds are willing to spend money moving forward. For instance, if you knew they were going to open up the purse books to get a top shelf starter next offseason, I'd be willing to move Marte for a sure thing CF. However, if they remain committed to something akin to the Tampa Model, then Marte almost has to be untouchable at this point.

Collier is at or near the top of my list.

CES's defensive limitation perhaps limits his potential return, I think the vest value for him at this point is as a DH/1b for the Reds (like in 4 hours)

Arroyo is intriguing, but given the depth of SS options at the majors right now, I'd be willing to move him for the right piece and not think twice

Phillips/Petty fit the mold that if they are going to follow the Tampa Model they almost have to keep as many good young pitching prospects as possible to keep a steady stream of arm available down the road. I would hesitate to move any pitching prospect.

[CaiGuy]

I say go for it.

I would trade any one of the remaining "top" prospects still in the minors as part of a package for the right difference-maker.

Not a rental though...someone who comes with a little control or a "trade and sign" kind of deal.

We are all on a bit of a prospect high, but we have to remember what is happening right now for the MLB team is really unusual...most of us were against prospect hoarding not that long ago. I wouldn't empty the farm, but I would make take someone who is a bit redundant and cash in.

Marte or Arroyo could be that player to trade.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I say go for it.

I would trade any one of the remaining "top" prospects still in the minors as part of a package for the right difference-maker.

Not a rental though...someone who comes with a little control or a "trade and sign" kind of deal.

We are all on a bit of a prospect high, but we have to remember what is happening right now for the MLB team is really unusual...most of us were against prospect hoarding not that long ago. I wouldn't empty the farm, but I would make take someone who is a bit redundant and cash in.

Marte or Arroyo could be that player to trade.

I think this is where I come down as well.

Marte as a headliner (with, say, Victor Acosta and Joe Boyle?) might net a Michael Kopech or Dylan Cease. If that's the case, I'm fine with that deal.

That said, I would not deal Christian Encarnacion-Strand for much of anything at this point.

[RedTeamGo!]

I am not trading any of the arms - the Reds need all the homegrown quality arms they can get.

I wouldn't trade CES or Collier. Everyone else is on the table.

[bah1286]

In theory, the reds are going to have a lot of money to spend this offseason without a lot of holes to fill. I wouldn’t touch Marte, Collier, Jorge, Arroyo, Rodriquez, Phillips, Petty, Richardson, or any of the very young, super high upside guys. It just doesn’t make sense right now. If next season comes around and we are in need of a starter and in first place near the deadline, things should be much more clear. Way to early on with all these young guys to really know what we have and need at this point.

[JCM11]

Assuming CES is in the majors soon the only remaining untouchable for me is Collier. To put things in perspective with Collier he's exactly one month older than Max Clark. I'd hate to deal Petty or Phillips, but if pairing one of those two with Marte brought back a legit MLB SP with multiple years of control then that's the cost of doing business. If they could land a pre arb SP in a trade and sign a good FA(Nola would be my target) then we're in really good shape.

I would be willing to shop Lodolo this off season for a dependable vet SP as well.

[Reds Freak]

I think a smart play either this summer or in the offseason would be to target a legitimate and proven SP with a few more years of control to slot into a 2-4 rotation spot. I figure you might have to give up one from each of these groups to get it done:

Position Player: Marte, Arroyo, Collier
Pitcher: Petty, Phillips, Richardson, Acuna
Extra Throw Ins: Hinds, Cerda, Callihan, Hendrick, etc.

It would sting but that's part of the reason why you accumulate all these guys.

[Brisco]

I say go for it.

I would trade any one of the remaining "top" prospects still in the minors as part of a package for the right difference-maker.

Not a rental though...someone who comes with a little control or a "trade and sign" kind of deal.

We are all on a bit of a prospect high, but we have to remember what is happening right now for the MLB team is really unusual...most of us were against prospect hoarding not that long ago. I wouldn't empty the farm, but I would make take someone who is a bit redundant and cash in.

Marte or Arroyo could be that player to trade.

I respectfully disagree. For any in-season/deadline trade you are going to pay a premium price.

I see no need for any sense of urgency. Can you name a single player on the Reds roster that you believe will perform worse in 2024 than they will for the remainder of 2023?

I prefer that the Reds use 2023 to find out more about the players they have. Then this off-season they will have a much better idea of what holes they actually have and the ability to acquire talent at a fair price.

Sure, if a deal clearly slants in the Reds favor, take it. Otherwise, stick with the plan.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Can you name a single player on the Reds roster that you believe will perform worse in 2024 than they will for the remainder of 2023?

Odds say about a quarter of them will. I'd guess Senzel, Newman, Lively, likely McLain, and most of the bullpen are playing at least a little over their heads. Steer too, fwiw.

OTOH, I expect Lodolo, Greene, Stephenson, and Ashcraft to be much improved.

[Tom Servo]

I know it's gonna be tricky with Elly and McLain presumably up the middle and then India/Steer/CES confined to the corners but I'd really rather not trade Marte. He seems like a pure hitter to me, the type of guy I'd want to plant at 3B and watch pound the ball for 6+ years.

Collier isn't someone I'd like to trade, but if he's not quite as advanced or special as the scouts had hoped he'd to see from his raw talent then I'm not totally opposed to dealing him.

Arroyo I would probably part with for the right deal, I half expected them to flip him this previous offseason.

Besides Abbott, Petty is probably the only pitching prospect I'd consider untouchable. I'm pretty high on Connor Phillips but I'd move him for the right return.

[Kc61]

My untouchables are EDLC and Hunter Greene. Probably Lodolo if he is back to form, post-injury. That’s it.

The rest depends on the return.

There are several young Reds players I wouldn’t shop. McLain for example.
But that’s different from untouchable.

I would sacrifice offense for high level pre-arb pitching, for example.