Outfield trade targets

[VI_RedsFan]

Bourgeois Zee (and perhaps others) have posted some good threads about trade targets such as Taylor Ward, Chas McCormick, Cedric Mullins and Luis Robert.

In light of the news about the Reds’ agreement with DSG ending and the likelihood that payroll will either stay at the same level in 2025 or even be lower, it seems like Krall, Meador and Co. will have to get creative in reconfiguring the outfield. I’m guessing that will happen via trade(s), and Krall has expressly said that the outfield has to get better. That of course could happen through internal improvements and position changes, like McLain to CF. But I still think they explore the trade market. As others have pointed out, I don’t see the Reds dipping into the top few levels of the free agent market for outfielders at this point. If anything, maybe they bring in a cheap guy like Michael A. Taylor (who they were interested in last year reportedly, but that was before his terrible season with the Pirates admittedly).

So I wanted to start a thread about some creative OF targets. The key here — for the sake of trying to be realistic about what the front office will do — will be to keep trade ideas about payroll neutral. Martinez will likely accept the QO and even if he ends up signing a longer deal for lower AAV, that’ll take up a chunk of the payroll. Ward and Robert are great targets but with this in mind I have a feeling they’re too pricey for the Reds at this point.

Fire away! One idea from me to get the convo started: Trade Alexis Diaz and Stuart Fairchild to the Rangers for Jon Gray, Leody Taveras and Josh H. Smith. For the Rangers, it gives them a new (and cheaper) closer to replace Kirby Yates and some payroll relief by taking on one year of Gray at $13m and Taveras who projects for about $4m in arb. The price of that salary help is Smith, who is pre-arb, plays a solid 3B (so he gives us another option there) and broke out a bit last year with the bat. The Rangers will still have Jung so I don’t think they mind moving Smith. For the Reds, Gray isn’t great but will give us the solid innings we’ll need and it’s just one year anyway. I mentioned the appeal of Smith. Taveras is inconsistent but he plays a good CF and is a switch hitter. Of course this proposal goes against my own rule of being payroll neutral, but they can even things out a bit by non-tendering guys like Espinal and Fraley, and maybe trading India.

[WrongVerb]

Wilyer Abreu checks a lot of boxes for this team: LH, kills righties, was a gold glove finalist.

[Mitri]

I like the Abreu idea. Looks like the Red Sox have a lot of LHH and would prefer to balance the lineup. India for Abreu would be an ideal trade, but is that enough? You’d think the Red Sox would want a pitcher instead - one of Abbott or Lodolo - though I hear rumblings that Boston is moving into a win-now approach and may buy a premier SP. Perhaps India makes sense.

I like Ward and Robert, too.

Any trade target would need to be above average in RF or CF to move the needle for me.

[Krusty]

Not a bad trade idea. Sticking with the Rangers, how about Alexis Diaz and Jake Fraley for Wyatt Langford? Rangers are looking for a left handed hitter and bullpen help. Langford is going to be a stud that you can pencil in RF and be a right hand power hitter for the next five years. Rangers are looking to get back to the World Series.

Another idea is Adolis Garcia for Alexis Diaz. Both players are coming off off-seasons. Two years of control with Garcia for three years of Diaz. Rangers have Wyatt Langford to plug in RF. Reds could give first shot at closer to Graham Ashcraft.

[M2]

The Rockies are so terrible I don't see how they can refuse a raft full of kids for Brenton Doyle.

[Bourgeois Zee]

India to the Yankees for Everson Periera and maybe a prospect.

Pereira is a true RF and could well be a monster, but the Yanks can't really play him with Dominguez, Judge, and Soto.

They also need a guy like India at either 2B or 3B.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Another option I really like:

Andrew Abbott and Alexis Diaz to Baltimore for Heston Kjerstad and Trevor Rogers.

Orioles get the MOR SP they were looking for when they dealt for Rogers last year and a closer in case Felix Bautista can't go early. Diaz also has a history of being an elite fireman, which turns the O bullpen into a much better version of itself. (It's still not above average, IMO, but Diaz would be a rather big help if he's right.) Better, Diaz protects against Bautista's early-season health (cheaply) and strengthens their poor pen, while Abbott strengthens their poor staff and comes home. (He pitched for UVA in college and is a Virginia schoolboy as well.) It costs them a SP they really didn't much like and a corner OF they can replace (if they re-sign Santander).

Reds get their starting caliber corner OF at a fraction of the cost of a free agent and a BOR SP to replace Abbott. Rogers is a groundball guy similar to Graham Ashcraft-- nothing special but adequate. He's a placeholder for the prospects who might move up later. He's arbitration eligible, so his inclusion likely makes the deal palatable in terms of salary for the Orioles. (Not sure they'd be willing to deal a more untest prospect in his stead.) This is, in part, a way for Baltimore to get out of that crappy deal they made last Trading Deadline and still make do. Rogers is clearly the lesser pitcher of the two, but Kjerstad makes the deal worth it. He looks like a difference-maker and can absolutely play RF for the next five years or so at the major league level. Kjerstad is the best player in the deal, but the Reds offer a lot that Baltimore needs at no cost.

[herbdizzle]

I dont believe the Reds will cut payroll. I expect a modest increase in budget in the 110-115 range. I understand thats is just mu humble opinion.

With that in mind, Id trade for Ward and sign Profar to a 2 year deal. Those guys cover the corner OF for this year and next. Friedl Mclain and Fairchild can man CF. Fraley or Benson as LH bench OF.

Steer, Mclain India CES Candy and Elly are my IF. Need a backup catcher with Stephenson.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Here's a lesser target that could well be a sneaky good choice:

DaShawn Keirsey, Jr., hit really well in AAA last season and is a legitimate Gold Glove level CF with 70 speed. He's got some pop too, as evidenced by his 14 AAA HR last year. He's LH and old for AAA, so I'm not sure the Twins are too enamored with him. (They twice chose other options before putting him on the 40-man roster due to a massive raft of injuries late in the season. It wouldn't take much, IMO, to get him, perhaps a live bullpen arm or a suspect prospect. IMO, he'd be a fantastic defender in the 9th hole in the batting order, hit the occasional HR, and steal the occasional base. Probably more of a 4th OF or second division starter, but, again, it wouldn't take much for him to provide real value for a team that needs it.

He could move Friedl to LF and vastly improve the overall team defense. (A Keirsey/ Friedl/ Fraley and Fairchild defense is among the best in baseball.) I really like him as a target if they're going super cheap or can't afford even bargain basement prices. I think he's a Brenton Doyle type that won't cost all that much. Super high floor and ready for some time in the majors, IMO.

I'd go as high as Zach Maxwell, Archie Moore, or Carson Rudd and the rights to Brandon Williamson, but I think a one-for-one with Will Benson might well do the trick for the Twinkies.

[M2]

Another option I really like:

Andrew Abbott and Alexis Diaz to Baltimore for Heston Kjerstad and Trevor Rogers.

I would approve of that from the Orioles side.

[Coopdaddy67]

Not a bad trade idea. Sticking with the Rangers, how about Alexis Diaz and Jake Fraley for Wyatt Langford? Rangers are looking for a left handed hitter and bullpen help. Langford is going to be a stud that you can pencil in RF and be a right hand power hitter for the next five years. Rangers are looking to get back to the World Series.

How drunk would the Rangers GM have to be to make that deal?

[Mitri]

Trading away Abbott is a bad idea.

[mth123]

Trading away Abbott is a bad idea.

They'd have to get another starter, but Abbott scares the heck out of me. FIP over 5. 1.6 HR/9 innings. K/BB ratio near 2, It's going to catch up with him.

[Ren Deagle]

Here's a lesser target that could well be a sneaky good choice:

DaShawn Keirsey, Jr., hit really well in AAA last season and is a legitimate Gold Glove level CF with 70 speed. He's got some pop too, as evidenced by his 14 AAA HR last year. He's LH and old for AAA, so I'm not sure the Twins are too enamored with him. (They twice chose other options before putting him on the 40-man roster due to a massive raft of injuries late in the season. It wouldn't take much, IMO, to get him, perhaps a live bullpen arm or a suspect prospect. IMO, he'd be a fantastic defender in the 9th hole in the batting order, hit the occasional HR, and steal the occasional base. Probably more of a 4th OF or second division starter, but, again, it wouldn't take much for him to provide real value for a team that needs it.

He could move Friedl to LF and vastly improve the overall team defense. (A Keirsey/ Friedl/ Fraley and Fairchild defense is among the best in baseball.) I really like him as a target if they're going super cheap or can't afford even bargain basement prices. I think he's a Brenton Doyle type that won't cost all that much. Super high floor and ready for some time in the majors, IMO.

I'd go as high as Zach Maxwell, Archie Moore, or Carson Rudd and the rights to Brandon Williamson, but I think a one-for-one with Will Benson might well do the trick for the Twinkies.

He looks like a stuck in the system guy, kind of like Christian Walker before his breakout. I wonder if he can be a rule 5 guy

[Krusty]

Can’t hurt to shoot high for starters. But what about Adolis Garcia for Alexis Diaz?