The Cincinnati Reds will likely see some major roster changes before the trade deadline. Which Reds won't be on the roster in a few weeks?
The Cincinnati Reds are in the midst of some of the most exciting times in Cincinnati during the 21st century. They have been dubbed "America's team", with the statement becoming a bit of a sarcastic joke around the clubhouse.
The Reds are young, energetic and fun. And they are winning. They're playing incredible baseball, led by some really exciting young prospects. Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer have taken the National League by storm, all thrusting themselves into the NL Rookie of the Year race.
These are five players and/or prospects that will be on the Reds roster for the rest of this year and years to come. Not every player will be lucky enough to make the cut when July rolls around.
Reds Rumors: 5 players who won't be on the roster by July 1
5. TJ Hopkins will likely be back in Triple-A Louisville
TJ Hopkins got the call-up a few weeks ago, providing the Reds will quality outfield depth as they have missed multiple starters with injuries. Hopkins isn't one of the Reds' highest-rated prospects, but he has completely torn Triple-A pitching apart. That's left him and the Reds in a really weird spot. It seems as though he is too talented for Triple-A, but not developed enough to be an everyday starter with the Reds.
Hopkins just hasn't been able to find his groove in Cincinnati. In Triple-A this year, he's slashing .341/.437/.540, but in his 23 MLB at-bats, his slash line has been .174/.208/.174. He provides the Reds with good depth in the top of the minor leagues, but with multiple starters returning in the outfield, his spot doesn't appear safe.
The Reds are going to need to make a few big decisions as they have multiple players returning from the injured list. Jose Barrero was the first player to be optioned to Triple-A, making room for Nick Senzel to return on Friday.
Hopkins will likely be replaced whenever Jake Fraley returns from the IL. Fraley suffered a right wrist contusion after he was hit by a pitch. The left-handed outfielder is expected to be back on Sunday, potentially marking the end of TJ Hopkins's first run with the Reds.
4. Kevin Newman may not be on the Reds roster by July 1
Kevin Newman has provided the Reds with quality infield depth through the entire 2023 season. His spot likely wouldn't be in jeopardy if it wasn't for the surge of infield prospects flying up the ranks of the Reds system.
But, unfortunately for Newman, the Reds' top infield prospects are here and they are here to stay. The Reds have their infield of the future in Cincinnati, with Spencer Steer, Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Jonathan India holding down the four infield spots for the most part. That leaves Newman as a rotational piece when his value is much more than that.
Newman has been good for the Reds, but not great. He does his job, hitting left-handed pitching and being able to move all over the infield to rotate as starters need days off. Both of these traits provide a decent amount of value to teams that are shallow at infield depth. His value is too high to be released. He will ultimately be dealt before the season's end to make room for talented prospects in Cincinnati.
Newman will likely be replaced, positionally, by the young guys. His spot on the roster is almost solely there to hit left-handed pitching, but the Reds will be able to rotate their core four young infielders, as well as Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Nick Senzel around the infield enough to replace the versatile shortstop.
Encarnacion-Strand could see the call-up if Newman is dealt in a trade this month.
3. Luke Maile will have a new home by the end of the month
With so much talent coming through Triple-A as well as returning from the IL, the Reds will need to let go of their three-catcher experiment here soon. The most likely name of the Reds' three catchers (Tyler Stephenson, Curt Casali, and Luke Maile) to be traded would be Luke Maile.
Tyler Stephenson is the Reds' backstop of the future. He provides the best bat, the youth, and the highest upside by a landslide. His spot is safe. That leaves the two veterans, Casali and Maile. While Maile has had the better bat, Casali has been crucial to the Reds pitching staff. Their pitching staff has an ERA almost two runs lower with Casali behind the dish compared to Maile.
The Reds would likely move Luke Maile in a trade before the deadline. Catching depth is a crucial part of the push to October and Maile would be a great second option for many teams around the league. His replacement on the Reds roster wouldn't be as a catcher.
His roster spot would likely be filled by Joey Votto or Christian Encarnacion-Strand, whenever they return Votto or call Encarnacion-Strand up to the MLB. Maile will likely be moved to make room for the second of these two players, whichever happens second.
2. Wil Myers likely won't be on the Reds by July
Reds fans have been calling for the Reds to part ways with the veteran Wil Myers for almost the entire 2023 season. The expectations were high on the former All-Star when the Reds inked him to a one-year, $7.5 million contract. But Myers has played far from a $7.5 million player.
In 2023, he's slashing .189/.257/.283 across 127 at-bats. Nearly every Reds outfielder that has seen major league time this year is slashing significantly better than that. Against left-handed pitching, Spencer Steer, Stuart Fairchild, Nick Senzel, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and even TJ Friedl represent better options. Myers isn't a good candidate to swing against righties either.
Filling Myers' role on the team won't be difficult. The Reds have plenty of outfield depth in the MLB as well as returning from the injury list. The Reds have moved a few infielders to the outfield as of late that could fill his role.
The switch of Christian-Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer to the outfield grass has almost certainly sealed the veteran's fate. He will likely see his time with the Reds come to an end when the Reds are fully healthy and Christian Encarnacion-Strand makes his debut.
1. Fernando Cruz will likely be DFA'd by Reds before July
The Reds bullpen has been one of the best pieces of their team in 2023. Their GM, Nick Krall, spoke in what seemed to be a tone that hinted the Reds would be buyers at the deadline.
This tone should excite Reds fans all over the world. The Reds players want to win and so does the General Manager. But this will mean the Reds will look to improve their already impressive bullpen.
The short straw of the bunch has been Fernando Cruz. Cruz has thrown to a horrible 1.51 WHIP and an ERA near 7.00. These numbers would haunt a team on the push toward a division title. Not only has Cruz struggled, but the Reds are quite likely to acquire a left-handed reliever before the trade deadline, due to their lack of southpaw depth in the MLB and Triple-A bullpens.
The question of who replaces Cruz can't be answered with a name just yet. But, more than likely, it will be a left-handed reliever that fills Cruz's roster spot, if he is DFA'd in the near future. Whether that pitcher is the former Red, Aroldis Chapman, or a different option is still to be seen, but his spot will be filled with a lefty specialist in the bullpen.