Brady Singer Addresses Trade Rumors After Reds Lose Series to Guardians

The Cincinnati Reds lost their first series since the All-Star break on Wednesday, July 29, dropping the rubber game to the Cleveland Guardians 6-1.

Starting pitcher Brady Singer took the mound for the Reds with a chance to build on his trade value. In his previous four starts in July, Singer went 2-2 with a 2.77 ERA over 26 innings. He allowed just eight earned runs while posting a 23-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

After a tough start to the season, Singer had seemingly found something that worked. However, he turned in his worst start since June despite not allowing an earned run because of a fielding mistake by rookie infielder Edwin Arroyo. Singer threw 100 pitches, walking four Guardians batters and striking out three. He also allowed six hits, his most in a game during July. Singer also walked back-to-back batters with the bases loaded, forcing in two runs for the Guardians in the fifth inning.

Singer is the most likely player on the Reds roster to be traded before the Aug. 3 deadline. The Reds have said they are open for business, especially regarding players with expiring contracts. Singer is among the players who could help other teams as a rental, along with Tyler Stephenson, Nate Lowe, Eugenio Suarez, and Brock Burke. Singer addressed the trade rumors after Wednesday's game, saying that if it was his last start with the Reds, he had really enjoyed his time with the organization and in the clubhouse. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s out of my control. If it is my last, I enjoyed the hell out of this clubhouse.”
Singer was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in a trade that sent former Reds Rookie of the Year second baseman Jonathan India to Kansas City. Singer has a 4.35 ERA this season after posting a 4.03 ERA last year, using a strong finish to the season to improve his numbers.

The Chicago White Sox have been linked to Singer by ESPN's Jesse Rogers as a contending team in need of additional pitching depth. If Singer is traded, it would open the door for someone like Rhett Lowder to take on a larger role in the rotation. With Nick Lodolo working back from a blister injury and Hunter Greene, Chase Burns and Andrew Abbott also in the rotation, a Singer trade should not significantly affect the Reds' already unlikely chances of making a second-half push for the playoffs.

Cincinnati is 50-57, 16.5 games behind in the NL Central and six games out of the final NL wild-card spot.