Reds trade idea sees Cincinnati replace T.J. Friedl as leadoff hitter, center fielder with $7.7 million All-Star MVP
admin_news
Reds trade idea sees Cincinnati replace T.J. Friedl as leadoff hitter, center fielder with $7.7 million All-Star MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Reds’ center fielder T.J. Friedl has been struggling offensively this season, and has never really been a great hitter. Now, he’s batting leadoff, and for a Reds team that’s tied for first place in the NL Central, they need a solid leadoff hitter.
Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Shea proposes that they find their answer by trading with the Boston Red Sox for their All-Star outfielder, Jarren Duran. Duran is off to the same slow start as Friedl, but his ceiling after he warms up is so much higher.
The trade would look like this:
Reds get: OF Jarren Duran
Red Sox get: CIN No. 5 prospect 1B/3B Cam Collier, CIN No. 7 prospect RHP Chase Petty, CIN No. 27 prospect RHP Deivi Villafana
“With the Cincinnati Reds off to an 11–7 start and leading the NL Central, this becomes a clear “go for it” move. Adding Jarren Duran gives them an immediate everyday impact bat who strengthens the top of the lineup with speed, defense, and consistency—helping maximize a legitimate playoff push…Ultimately, it’s a win-now deal built around capitalizing on a division-leading start and pushing for a deep postseason run,” Shea wrote.
So far this season, Duran is slashing .167/.254/.267/.520 with three doubles, one home run, and 10 RBI in 15 games. However, he’s only two seasons removed from his All-Star MVP year, where he slashed .285/.342/.492/.834 with MLB-leading 48 doubles and 14 triples, 21 home runs, 75 RBI, and 34 stolen bases in 160 games.
He’d also be cheap, as he’s only set to make $7.7 million this year, and still has two more years of control. If the Reds are smart, they’ll make sure Duran is on their team by the trade deadline.
MORE MLB NEWS
