The Cincinnati Reds were fighting for a playoff position with one of the best starting staffs in the National League – scratch that – the entire Major Leagues, when they found themselves at an MLB Deadline, a spot they haven’t been great at in general, and made what can’t be described as anything other than puzzling move, a Reds 2025 Trade Move. Subscribe to our Newsletter by using the popup or the form below! Please Also Add Us To Your “Trusted” Sources clicking here!
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Nick Krall Leads The League With ‘Puzzling’ Moves
No, but seriously. He really does. Most teams stand pat, Nick Krall will make a move that makes absolutely zero sense and ultimately ends up hindering the Reds in some other form or fashion, much like the 2025 deadline move did. Acquiring Ke’Bryan Hayes really made no sense considering the Reds were already an offensively incompetent, ‘cash strapped,’ team, and all they did was ended up adding the worst statistical hitter in MLB, that is making $7,000,000 or greater through 2030.
Now sure, he is absolutely the best defensive third basemen in the big leagues, but is that reason to add him to your team? The name of the game is scoring runs, right? Without runs, you don’t win baseball games, this is where the confusion comes into play. I understand that the Reds play 81 games at GABP and if you adapt in even small increments you can really make an offensive impact, but Hayes is who Hayes is. Have we mentioned the fact that he has a bad back? Yeah, nice one, Krall!
Now, with all that said and done, Ke’Bryan Hayes did come over and show some small promise offensively, but that fizzled out real quick, and one could assume it’s due to the back issues he is known to have, and Terry Francona made a comment about just that without directly saying it. Hayes finished the month of September with a 49 wRC+ and slashing a mere .209/.299/.224…absolutely disgusting. Unfortunately, that’s what I have a bad feeling we have to look forward to…because that’s who he is, and who he has been. Lovely!
Why Is It Such A Big Deal?
It’s as simple as this – the Reds, at the hand of Nick Krall, just completely removed themselves from the ability to obtain a better talent. It’s not like Hayes was a rental player – it would’ve made a little bit of sense then, he’s not. He’s going to be a Red, assuming he doesn’t retire due to injuries, through 2029. There is very, very few teams that are successful in October fielding a guy at the hot corner with an OPS of .595. The Cincinnati Reds fielded the two worst there. Jeimer Candelario AND Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Using other team’s success at that position, here’s a look at the two World Series team’s third basemen: The Los Angeles Dodgers have Max Muncy with a .846 OPS and the Toronto Blue Jays have their third basemen, Ernie Clement, at a .711 OPS and a 98 wRC+. Other playoff teams, however, like Cleveland and Seattle, had guys with .800 or above OPS at the position.
Who Else, If Not Hayes?
Now, ladies and gentleman, is where I get annoyed and frustrated. There are so many better options out there. For example, Alex Bregman announced he was opting out of his deal with the Red Sox and is now available. Eugenio Suarez, our beloved Geno, fresh off another year where he hit 48 homeruns, is a free agent and is known to LOVE Cincinnati. Those are just two candidates that are going to be available.
Yet here we are, stuck with the statistical worst qualified hitter in Major League Baseball playing hot corner for us. We all watched the Cincinnati Reds, they had the worst time scoring runs – Hayes isn’t going to help that. It’s just another example of Nick Krall being unqualified for the job he holds, that’s all it is. I haven’t even brought up the fact that Sal Stewart, the #1 prospect in the organization, was playing 3B and Krall blocked him for Hayes.
There’s Still A Chance For Hayes To Be Great…
Look, for as annoyed as I am with Ke’Bryan Hayes being acquired, there’s still a great chance, if he’s healthy, that he can elevate offensively. That’s fact, but I feel confident, especially with the hitting philosophy this organization has adapted, that won’t be happening.
And KBH, if you or family is reading this, I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at the bat boy running my favorite team that continues to make moves that make zero sense. Sure, Ke’Bryan is a gold glover, and I don’t want to minimize the effect that has on the game, but the Reds needed bats and STILL do. I’m not seeing the logic.
