Busy week brings new faces to Reds’ future
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – It’s been an emotional start to Cincinnati Reds camp this year, replacing the usual spring training vibes with the uncertainty of the roster after a flurry of trades.
The Reds made three trades during the first four days of camp, leading to emotional goodbyes with some of the longest-tenured players.
So, what are the Reds doing to their roster? What is the plan? Here’s a breakdown of the trades they made last week:
Sonny Gray to Twins
Who the Reds traded away: Gray, one of their best starters, had a 7-9 record and a 4.19 ERA across 26 starts last season. He’s in the final guaranteed year of his contract, owed $10.7 million this year with a reasonable $13 million club option for 2023. Minor league reliever Francis Peguero, who spent last year at High-a Dayton, was included in the deal.
Who the Reds received: Chase Petty, an 18-year-old right-hander, was the No. 26 pick in last summer’s draft. He can reach 100 mph with his fastball, but he’s a few years from potentially contributing at the major league level.
Why the Reds made the trade: It was a way to lower payroll by $10 million and the Reds received a player they coveted in last year’s draft.
Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez to Mariners
Who the Reds traded away:winker is one of the top hitters against right-handed pitching in the majors, earning his first All-star nod last year. Winker, who is two years from free agency and projected to make around $7 million this season, hit .305 with 32 doubles, 24 homers and 71 RBI in 110 games in the best season of his career.
Suárez has more homers than any other player across the past four seasons, but his batting average and onbase percentage have plummeted in the past two years. Suárez batted .198 last summer with 23 doubles, 31 homers, 79 RBI in 145 games.
Who the Reds received: The centerpiece of the trade was lefthanded pitching prospect Brandon Williamson, who is rated as baseball’s No. 83 overall prospect by Baseball America. Right-handed pitcher Justin Dunn and outfielder Jake Fraley have major league experience.
Why the Reds made the trade: It was selling high on Winker’s trade value and shedding Suárez’s contract, $11 million this year and $35 million over the next three years, created some additional financial flexibility.
Williamson fits onto the same timeline as fellow top-100 prospects Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo where they could all debut in the starting rotation this summer.
Dunn will likely miss the start of the season because of a shoulder injury, but the 26-year-old righty had a 3.75 ERA in 11 starts for the Mariners last season with a high walk rate. Fraley, a solid defender, has hit well against righties and struggled against lefties.
Amir Garrett to Royals
Who the Reds traded away: Lefty reliever Garrett was a key part of the Reds’ bullpen for the past few seasons, one of the dominant setup men in the league during 2019 and ’20. He struggled in 2021 with a 6.04 ERA in 63 relief appearances.
Who the Reds received: Lefthanded starting pitcher Mike Minor had a 5.05 ERA in 28 starts last year with 149 strikeouts and 41 walks in 158 2/3 innings. He’s pitched at least 157 innings in each season since 2018, making the All-star team in 2019.
Why the Reds made the trade: The trade added about $7.5 million to the Reds’ payroll, so it’s unlike their other trades when they added younger players. Minor’s durability should help a rotation that lost Gray and Wade Miley this offseason, especially with prospects trying to prove they’re ready for the big-league level and Dunn’s shoulder injury.