One of the top voices on the Reds beat, Mark Sheldon of Reds.com, has released a list of potential trade deadline targets Cincinnati is reportedly pursuing.
Sheldon names five players the Reds have been linked to: Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez, Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes, Colorado relievers Jake Bird and Seth Halvorsen, and St. Louis Cardinals starter Sonny Gray.
Suárez remains a popular name across the league, and Sheldon notes that the Reds’ interest in Hayes came as a surprise. While Suárez would add much-needed power to Cincinnati’s lineup, Hayes offers elite defensive value at third base — a position where the Reds have struggled defensively all year. If a Suárez reunion falls through, Hayes could be a logical pivot, even if he brings a different skill set.
On the pitching front, the Reds were previously involved in discussions for Chris Paddack before the Tigers landed him. Acquiring Sonny Gray would represent a bigger upgrade, but making a deal with a division rival like the Cardinals could be tricky. Gray is under contract for $26 million in 2026 with a $30 million club option in 2027.
In the bullpen, Jake Bird and Seth Halvorsen are two Rockies pitchers drawing interest from the Reds, with Bird standing out as the more reliable option. He owns a 26.3% strikeout rate, a 48% ground ball rate, and a 3.45 FIP, despite a higher 4.72 ERA, suggesting he’s been a bit unlucky.
Interestingly, Suárez is the only name previously linked to Cincinnati in other reports. The rest of the list highlights how active GM Nick Krall and assistant GM Brad Meador have been behind the scenes.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, it’ll be fascinating to see which of these names — if any — the Reds manage to land.
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