Reds acquire SS Kyle Holder from Phillies

CINCINNATI – In a trade on Saturday, the Reds acquired shortstop Kyle Holder from the Phillies in exchange for cash.

Cincinnati’s 40-man roster had 38 players with the addition.

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Holder, 26, was a Rule 5 Draft selection by Philadelphia from the Yankees' roster. He would need to remain on the Reds’ 26-man roster for the entire 2021 season or be offered back to New York.

Considered a strong defensive infielder, Holder batted .265/.336/.405 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 2019 for Double-A Trenton. He was the Yankees' first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in the 2015 MLB Draft.

Holder, who is unlikely to fill the Reds’ need for a starting shortstop, likely became expendable after another move earlier in the day. Sources told MLB.com that the Phillies and Didi Gregorius have agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract, pending a physical. The club has not confirmed the deal.

Gregorius was the last starting shortstop available on the free-agent market and he was also being pursued by the Reds.

That means Reds general manager Nick Krall will likely have to make a trade to fill the club’s hole at shortstop.