These four players could help the Reds this season and beyond.
Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic recently reported that the Reds are open for business, mainly surrounding players on expiring contracts such as Brady Singer, Tyler Stephenson and others. However, they also made it clear that Cincinnati is interested in adding controllable major league players who it believes can help the roster this season and beyond.
Given that, who are those kinds of players the Reds could make a splash for at the trade deadline? It's a specific type of player. Cincinnati probably won't want to send top prospects such as Alfredo Duno, Hector Rodriguez or Steele Hall in a deal for this type of player, but it could still part with a valuable prospect such as Cam Collier, Jose Acuna or others.
The player they target also has to be in a specific situation. Either a player who is struggling this season after sustained success or a player having a breakout campaign. The player also needs to be under team control beyond this season, preferably through 2028.
I found four players who fit that description that the Reds may be able to acquire.
3B/DH Austin Riley (Atlanta Braves)
Riley has struggled mightily this season, but he has been a beacon of consistency throughout his career, batting above .250 every season from 2021-25. He also hit 30 or more home runs in three straight seasons from 2021-23. Riley has heated up lately, so the Braves might not be in a rush to move him.
He is under contract with a club option for 2033. The Reds would be banking on a change-of-scenery boost despite his $21.2 million average annual value. The Braves have dealt with injuries to both their starting rotation and lineup, so Brady Singer or Spencer Steer could make sense in a deal.
C Shea Langeliers (Athletics)
The Athletics have been open about their interest in trading Shea Langeliers, just as the Reds have been open about potentially trading catcher Tyler Stephenson. Langeliers is hitting .250 with 22 home runs after batting .277 with 31 home runs last season.
He has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, and the Athletics could be interested in the prospects the Reds have to offer.
OF Mickey Moniak (Colorado Rockies)
The former No. 1 overall pick has found his stride with the Rockies. He has hit .270 or above in each of the past two seasons and is on pace to hit a career-high home run total in 2026, with 15 so far this season.
Moniak is under team control through 2027 and is making just $4 million per year. The Reds need offensive help in the outfield.
OF Jarren Duran (Boston Red Sox)
Duran is hitting just .191 but has 13 home runs. There have been discussions in Boston about the Red Sox possibly trading the 29-year-old, who hit .285 with 21 home runs in 2024. He's also had off-the-field issues that could make a change of scenery beneficial.
Duran is under team control, with arbitration eligibility in 2027 and 2028.
