It was reported by a New York Yankees media person that the Reds were in attendance for the Rays-Yankees game tonight in New York to scout several players. They are actually there scouting both teams. Subscribe to our Newsletter below to get all the news!
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Yandy Diaz – The Perfect Fit
One of the players the Cincinnati Reds are there to see tonight is 1B/DH Yandy Diaz. I’m not sure there’s a more perfect fit for the Reds lineup than Yandy Diaz. The Reds are seeking a middle of the lineup guy who can hit HRs and provide veteran ABs. As it stands, the Reds only have 4 ~qualified~ regulars that are above average (100 wRC+ or above.) That, my friends, is pathetic.
Enter Yandy Diaz, a definitive bat first guy, but can also hold his own at 1B on days it’s needed. He has a 125 wRC+ currently on the season, and is worth 1.9 bWAR. He hardly strikes out, and he is controlled through 2027 through a vested club option the Rays put on him. With that said, he’s going to have a steep price tag, especially cause of the year he’s having offensively.
Yandy walked 2x and struckout 2x in tonight’s win against the New York Yankees.
Surprisingly, The New York Yankees Are Also ‘Selling’
The Yankees, quite unreported, are listening to offers on their relief pitchers that expire after this year. One being Luke Weaver, another being Devin Williams. The Reds are also there in New York checking up on them. The idea is that the Yankees are starting to sense their bad defense, bad pitching & are starting to think about bolstering their farm for next season.
Luke Weaver has been the best of the bunch in their bullpen, and obviously, the Reds are very familiar with him. There has not been any link there, but Luke Weaver could help the Reds with a reunion in a big way, should they opt to take part in the rental RP market.
It has also been rumored that the Yankees are making our kryptonite, Devin Williams, available in trade talks. It’s seeming like the Yankees plan to do a lot of buying/selling this deadline, and industry isn’t sure which one they’ll do more of. They’re 2nd in the AL East and have a playoff spot locked up, however, Aaron Judge hit the IL with a serious injury and could miss a lot of time.
Lots Of Scouting, No Moves Yet
If you read our site, you know the Reds have every intention to be ‘aggressive’ per Ken Rosenthal, citing a rival executive. So far, we’ve not seen any evidence of that, other than some scouting here and there. They’ve been checking in on players in Minnesota, New York, Tampa Bay, Arizona and one that may surprise some a little bit, Pittsburgh. They haven’t been looking at Chicago (White Sox) much of late, which tells me they’re out on Luis Robert Jr.
The MLB Trade Deadline is on Thursday of this week. There’s plenty of time to get going. Most industry folks believe that the market won’t move until Thursday right at the end as dominoes fall. There are many, many offers on the table just waiting to be accepted as players fall off the board.
