MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Potential Targets for Cincinnati Reds at Trade Deadline

The Cincinnati Reds are teetering on a thin line in the National League Central.

They are well within striking distance at only 4.5 games out entering Thursday’s action and hold the best run differential in the division at plus-24.

Yet they have three teams to leap frog and watching them through almost 100 games gives you a sense that something is missing. The spectacular parts of this team have never meshed at the same time and something usually goes wrong.

Whether it be a starting pitcher giving up multiple runs in the first inning (something the Reds lead the majors in) or the bats falling silent. Some part of the team doesn't perform.

That’s why when asked by Mark Sheldon of Reds.com if the team is buying or selling, GM Walt Jocketty had a quick response:

"

Oh yeah, definitely. We would like to improve our club since it's easier to do before the 31st. There is some urgency—but not tremendous urgency. I still have a lot of confidence that we're good enough to win, but if there is a chance to upgrade the club, we would try to pursue it.

"

Plenty of names have been linked with the Reds, but there are five players that really stand out. These players can fill the void at the two biggest positions of need: leadoff hitter and starting pitcher.

Here are five players with a shot of relocating to Cincinnati by the time August rolls around.

5. Chone Figgins: Seattle Mariners

His year-and-a-half tenure with the Seattle Mariners has been an utter disaster. This year he is batting .184 with 14 RBI and nine stolen bases in 272 AB. Last year was marginally better.

Incredibly awful.

Yet the 33-year-old utiltyman had an incredible career up until the move. Including the awful era at Safeco, Figgins is a career .281 hitter with a .352 OBP. 

The talent is there, and he could provide the Reds with a leadoff hitter they so desperately need. The problem is he is still owed $20 million through 2013, and the Reds are already set at third base with Miguel Cairo and the All-Star Scott Rolen.

This deal would only get done if the Mariners were willing to eat an incredible amount of the deal.

Odds of a trade: 30/1

4. Wandy Rodriguez: Houston Astros

The biggest need of the Reds is a top of the rotation starter that is reliable. They have plenty of young guys that have shown flashes of brilliance (Travis Wood, Edinson Volquez, Homer Bailey) but are unable to put it all together.

Rodriguez is a 32-year old lefty that has quietly been the best pitcher for the ‘Stros since the departure of Roy Oswalt. He currently has a 6-6 record with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

He signed a three-year $34 million extension before the year started and would be under the Reds control for another two years.

Rodriguez would be the type of reliable inning eater that is exactly what the Reds need. Then again…are the Astros willing to give up their best starting pitcher to a divisional rival?

On top of that, the Astros are reportedly asking for everything but the kitchen sink for All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence. Should we assume the same with Rodriguez?

Odds of a trade: 20/1

3. Ubaldo Jimenez: Colorado Rockies

If any team had a shot at landing Jimenez, it would the Reds.

They are the only contender that can meet the insanely high demands of the Rockies. The Reds have the sixth ranked farm system according to Baseball America and a lot of the top prospects are on the brink of the majors.

They posses two top catching prospects in Devin Mesoraco and Yasmani Grandal. Yonder Alonso is considered one of the best hitters in the minors and can take over for Todd Helton once he calls it quits at first base.

Then there is Edinson Volquez and Travis Wood—two starting pitchers that have major league experience and have shown signs of brilliance.

The contract of Jimenez is any GM’s dream and the Reds would be under his control through 2014. Next year he will make $4.2 million and has team options for both 2013 ($5.75 million) and 2014 ($8 million).

For a front of the rotation ace that gets ground balls—Great American Ballpark fits him well.

But it appears the asking price is too high, and the Reds may be mortgaging a large chunk of their future in order to get a pitcher with a 6-8 record and a 4.00 ERA.

Odds are this deal doesn’t happen: (15/1).

2. Coco Crisp: Oakland A’s

The Reds need a speedster at the top of the line that doesn’t lead the majors in strikeouts (cough Drew Stubbs, cough) and Crisp is an available option. Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Reds are interested in pursuing the vet.

The 31-year-old is currently sporting a .265 batting average, with a less than stellar .315 OBP, but it’s hard to ignore his 27 stolen bases.

The Reds would be trading for him as a rental considering he is in the midst of a one-year, $5.75 million contract. This isn’t the style of Jocketty, who admitted he is looking for player’s he can have control over for the next few years.

Odds of a trade: 10/1

1. James Shields: Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are stuck behind the Yankees and Red Sox and are going nowhere fast in the American League East. Management has made teams around the league aware that every player on the roster is available at the right price.

That really caught the Reds interest with starting pitcher James Shields.

He has a 8-8 record, but sports a tidy 2.57 ERA with 146 strikeouts and a 1.01 WHIP. Pretty remarkable considering he pitches in the dreaded AL East.

His contract is the big reason the Reds are pursing him hard. He will make $7 million next year, $9 million in 2013 and $12 million in 2014—small numbers for a pitcher with the talent of Shields.

The asking price for his services will be high but not Ubaldo high.

The Reds could likely obtain the 29-year-old in return for one of their terrific young catchers and either Volquez or Wood in addition to a lesser player currently on the 25-man roster.

The Reds get their top of the rotation starter that will be around for at least three more years and the Rays get two guys chalk full of potential at positions where it’s hard to come by.

Sounds like a match to me.

Odds of a trade: 3/1