These 7 Reds could be moved by Deadline

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The 2022 Trade Deadline is Aug. 2, and all signs are pointing toward it being an active next month for the Reds. With the last-place club clearly in seller mode and looking to rebuild, I would expect several deals to get made on the heels of the trades that shipped out costly veterans during Spring Training and the offseason.

Reds general manager Nick Krall will likely be hearing a lot of offers, especially for players on the roster who are not signed beyond 2023.

Here’s a look at some of those who could be headed out:

STARTING PITCHERS

RHP Luis Castillo and RHP Tyler Mahle

The starting-pitcher market is viewed as thin, while demand for arms is high, and this could be where the Reds can really get a lot in return. The only other top-flight pitcher considered available and who might be seen as a game-changer is the A’s Frankie Montas.

Castillo, especially, will be in play because of his electric fastball and changeup, which have made him Cincinnati’s ace. The 29-year-old, who is 3-4 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 starts, is making $7.35 million this season and will be arbitration-eligible for the third and final time this offseason. He can be a free agent after the 2023 season.

Mahle, 27, has been less consistent than Castillo, going 3-7 with a 4.48 ERA over 17 starts this season. But there have been some sterling performances when his mid-to-high 90s four-seam fastball is sharp. On June 15, for example, Mahle worked nine scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in an extra-innings no-decision at Arizona. He has a 2.58 ERA over his last seven starts and could certainly boost the back of a contender’s rotation.

LHP Mike Minor

Minor is 1-5 with a 6.82 ERA in six starts and 34 years old, but the left-hander may have slightly boosted his value with a six-inning, two-run start vs. Atlanta on Friday. He’s making $10 million and can be a free agent at season’s end. The lefty also has postseason experience, with a 0.90 ERA in four playoff games.

POSITION PLAYERS

3B Brandon Drury

Drury could be the ultimate “buy low, sell high” move for the Reds in 2022. He was signed to a Minor League contract in March and is making $900,000 with free agency coming after the season. Drury, who has an .851 OPS and 17 homers, is a team leader in multiple offensive categories and versatile on defense. The right-handed hitter can play every infield spot and if need be, left field.

LF Tommy Pham

The Reds signed Pham in March to a one-year, $7.5 million with the idea he could be flipped midseason if he had a good year. After a rough start, the 34-year-old has picked up the production and is batting .253/.342/.418 with 11 homers in 71 games. Pham got some added attention for his fantasy-football kerfuffle with the Giants’ Joc Pederson earlier this season but the veteran outfielder would bring an intensity, good fielding instincts, lots of preparation and postseason experience.

SS Kyle Farmer

Farmer has missed a couple of games recently with a sore left hand after being hit by a 100 mph pitch, but he's been one of the more productive shortstops in the National League this season while batting .280/.345/.411 with five homers. The Reds would eventually like to see young shortstop Jose Barrero come up from Triple-A Louisville. Farmer is a big team leader for the Reds and versatile enough to play seven positions. He is making $3.16 million this season.

OF Tyler Naquin

Naquin, who is making $4.03 million this season, hit a career-high 19 homers with an .809 OPS in 2021 and had five homers with a .775 OPS before going on the injured list with a quad strain May 31. He was activated on Tuesday and could be a lefty power bat for a club in need.