Jul. 13—History suggests that the Cincinnati Reds have work to do to avoid being sellers at the trade deadline on Aug. 3.
Entering the series finale against the Cubs on Sunday, July 11, the Reds were seven games under .500 (43-51). In 2024, the Reds were sellers at the trade deadline when they were five games under .500. In 2025, the Reds were buyers at the deadline when they were five games over .500.
If the Reds don’t turn July into their best month of this season, they’ll face some tough decisions.
And if the Reds end up being sellers, they have several interesting trade candidates.
Third baseman/DH Eugenio Suárez
At this point last year Suárez was the belle of the ball leading up to the trade deadline. He was an All-Star having one of the most prolific power seasons in the league. It’s been a different story this year as Suárez has really struggled to produce with the Reds. Still, he has a track record of being able to get very, very hot, and quality third basemen are very sparse around MLB right now.
First baseman/DH Nathaniel Lowe
There are probably many teams around MLB that are regretting not signing Lowe to a big league contract in free agency. He joined the Reds in February on a minor league deal and has been a quality hitter versus right-handed pitching all season. There’s a platoon role or a prominent bench role for Lowe on most teams around the league.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson
If the Reds don’t trade him, he’d be the first homegrown Reds player since Michael Lorenzen in 2021 to hit free agency at the end of their rookie contract with the Reds. Everyone else has been traded or released before reaching free agency. Good catchers are very hard to find. Stephenson quietly has been very good since the start of June. He’s a free agent at the end of the year.
Reliever Caleb Ferguson
He has been traded a few times in his big league career, and teams are always looking for left-handed specialists at the deadline. After missing the first two months of the year with an oblique injury, Ferguson has been very solid and lived up to his reputation as a reliable veteran piece. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season.
Reliever Brock Burke
Burke was a nice find for the Reds in the offseason, acquiring him in a three-team deal where they traded Gavin Lux in January. He’s a lefty with the arsenal to also get consistent outs against right-handed hitters, and he’s very versatile. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season.
Reliever Pierce Johnson
Johnson has been one of the more dependable middle relievers in MLB going back to the 2023 season. He’s also very versatile, and there’s a place for him in just about any bullpen. The Reds aggressively attacked building up bullpen depth. While some of the returning relievers from last year’s team have battled injuries and while the rookie relievers on the team have failed to develop, Burke, Ferguson and Johnson have been success stories.
Starting pitcher Brady Singer
Singer will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Reds currently have six starting pitchers on the roster. Rhett Lowder appearing out of the bullpen has been a temporary move. Singer was in a rut in May, but he has really turned the corner over the last month.
Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo
He’s under contract through the 2027 season, and trading him would be a very bold move for the Reds. It would also net them a bigger return than they’d be able to get for any of their players in the final year of team control.
