With the Major League Baseball trading deadline just over a week away, baseball insiders are busy speculating who will be moved by July 31. Rumors are plentiful at this juncture of the baseball season, and no one really knows what will occur, but that never stops fans, talking heads and baseball writers from speculating.
If you do any Internet research at all concerning the topic, you will easily discover there is no shortage of folks playing general manager. Numerous trade proposals are beyond ridiculous, some are intriguing, others are wishful thinking, but most of them are nothing more than mere rumors.
For this exercise today, this guy will try to play along, and let y’all know what I think the Cincinnati Reds should – but more than likely – will not accomplish as the deadline looms.
We have talked ad nauseum concerning the need for more right-handed hitting power in the Cincy lineup, but there appears to be limited options for the team to pursue at this point of the season. The most talked about player who may be on the move is a former Red, but the asking price will be exorbitant, and several other teams with deeper wallets are also pursuing Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
The 34-year-old Venezuelan was a fan favorite in Cincinnati, and he would likely welcome a return to the Queen City. Suarez’s recent production has been nothing short of spectacular, giving the D-Backs even more leverage if they decide to be a seller at the deadline. Hs leads the National
League with 36 home runs, and all of baseball with 86 runs batted in. His presence in the middle of the order would significantly boost the Reds lineup, but another of his former teams is also rumored to be in hot pursuit.
That would be the Seattle Mariners, a team similar to Cincinnati due to its inconsistent offense, and a desperate need to earn a postseason berth. The Mariners are attempting to reach the playoffs for just the second time in 24 years, and their lack of punch in their lineup has been an ongoing issue. The Mariners are currently five games behind Houston in the AL West, but smack dab in the middle of Wild Card consideration, and acquiring Suarez may put them over the top.
The usual suspects, including the Yankees and Cubs, are also rumored to have serious interest in Suarez, but maybe the Reds can get creative and surprise the baseball world with an offer that Arizona cannot refuse. The package would likely have to include young starting pitching, which is a definite need for the team in the desert. The Reds are known for being reluctant to part with prospects, but this may an opportunity to help them get into the postseason, and maybe, just maybe, they will pull the trigger.
If the Redlegs get outbid in their pursuit of Suarez, an outfielder/designated hitter may be an option. One name being bandied about is Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels, who has bashed 23 bombs to go with 76 RBI.
Another glaring need for the Reds – as it is for nearly team in MLB — is the bullpen. Manager Terry Francona has done a masterful job thus far with the arms he has available, but there have been concerning signs that those arms are getting weary.
Finding reliable pitchers to come out of the pen is always a bit of a shot in the dark, but look for the Reds to add a veteran or two for the stretch run.
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WILL THE BREW CREW EVER LOSE? – As this is being banged out on the keyboard on a lovely Tuesday morning, one MLB team has surprisingly risen to the top of the baseball world. On the other hand, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at all.
Those pesky Milwaukee Brewers are somewhat quietly putting together yet another outstanding season. The surging Brew Crew won its 11th consecutive game Monday evening, blanking Seattle on the road, 6-0, to leap over the Chicago Cubs into first place in the NL Central for the first time this season, and claim the best record (60-40) in baseball at the same time. The streak began with a 3-1 win in Miami on July 6, including six victories against the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers.
When you look at the Milwaukee lineup on paper, they don’t strike any fear into you, but year after year, all they do is win. Many baseball observers wondered how the Brewers would fare after their celebrated manager took the big bucks and departed for the Windy City before the 2024 season.
The answer? Just fine, thank you very much.
Craig Counsell received the largest managerial contract in baseball history, but Pat Murphy, Counsell’s successor in Milwaukee, has kept the winning train rolling in Brew City. The 66-year-old Murphy led them to a divisional title last year, while Counsell and the Cubs limped home in third place, and the former Notre Dame and Arizona State head baseball coach is getting it done again this season.
One reason for the Brew Crew’s recent success has been the return of starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who blanked the Mariners on two hits over six innings in Monday’s win. The former Mississippi State right-hander has made three starts after coming back from shoulder surgery that kept him out for the entire 2024 season, and he’s 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA, with 21 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings pitched.
Woodruff is just one of an impressive group of starters. Freddy Peralta is the current ace, with a 12-4 record and 2.85 ERA. Quinn Priester is 8-2 (3.33 ERA), Jose Quintana is 7-3 (3.49 ERA) and heralded rookie fireballer Jacob Misiorowski is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA in his five starts.
Offensively, Reds killer Christian Yelich leads the Brew Crew with 19 home runs and 66 runs batted in, and 21-year-old center fielder Jackson Courio has 16 homers and 64 RBI. Milwaukee has no shortage of pesky hitters featured in the rest of the lineup, with Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, Isaac Collins, William Contreras and Caleb Durbin leading the way.
The Brewers are a simply a team that has learned the right way to play the game over recent years, and despite losing their skipper, and players like shortstop Willy Adames and pitchers Corbin Burnes and closer Josh Hader, they have a way of finding a way. They remain a testament on how a so-called small market club can be successful season after season.
It would behoove the team down the river to do their best to imitate the Brew Crew.
***** “I wish our record was better than it is.” – Cincinnati Reds general manager Brad Meador stating the obvious
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“Rumor will die itself if you will only give it three days. Start any rumor, and if the public can go with its curiosity unsatisfied for three days something else will spring up which will make the public forget all about the first one.” – Mark Twain