The Cincinnati Reds (22-29) have fallen 12 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. General manager Walt Jocketty has yet to indicate he'll be looking to sell at the trade deadline, but the likelihood will become greater if the losses keep piling up.
The trade rumors have solely focused on Reds' players Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman and Mike Leake, but there's one other that has flown under the radar: third baseman Todd Frazier. The veteran has continued where he left off following last year's All-Star campaign and is batting .271/.353/.589 with 34 runs scored, 16 home runs, 31 RBIs and 6 stolen bases in 50 games.
ESPN Insider Buster Olney suggests Jocketty hears out other clubs that are potentially interested in Frazier.
"The Reds should take offers before July 31 for third baseman Todd Frazier, who will be eligible for free agency in a couple of years and will never have a higher market value then right now, at a time when the most coveted asset is right-handed power. Because of the contracts of Joey Votto and Homer Bailey, Cincinnati probably won't be able to afford Frazier -- and even if he agreed to terms, the Reds would be so boxed in by the small group of onerous contracts that they could afford little else."
It makes perfect sense. Frazier is 29 years old, and with the way things are shaping up, the Reds probably won't be in position to offer him the contract he's expected to command when he hits free agency after the 2017 season. Right now his value is likely the highest it's going to be because he's under a bargain salary and currently in stride to hit the prime of his career.
"A Reds sell-off is looming, and here's one thing we haven't talked about much: how the heck is this team going to keep Todd Frazier long-term?" FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal posited last month. "The Reds already have $75 million committed to five players for 2017, assuming they pick up Jay Bruce's option."
Cincinnati has a number of players that would help them acquire assets to get the club back on track as soon as possible. Votto ($225 million contract) and Bailey ($105 million) are pretty much untradeable. Votto is owed at least $20 million per year through the 2023 season, which many clubs would not want to inherit even though Votto is still one of the best first basemen in the MLB. Bailey is owed $86 million from 2016-2019 and just underwent two elbow surgeries within nine months, so that's a considerable risk for any club to take.
This leaves Frazier, Cueto, Chapman, Leake, Bruce, Billy Hamilton, Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart. Frazier has perhaps emerged as the top asset because Cueto recently dealt with inflammation in his throwing elbow, which has caused many teams to back off in trade discussions.
"It's difficult to imagine the Reds trading Frazier, but at some point they're going to need to get younger and create financial flexibility," Rosenthal added.
He's not alone in that assessment.
"If the Reds move quickly and adeptly, as the Braves did, they could stockpile young, cheap prospects and gain payroll flexibility and alter their future dramatically," Olney continued.
The Reds will be closely monitored within the next two months because the trade deadline is rapidly approaching.