The Cincinnati Reds may soon have an opportunity to strengthen their bullpen.
With the bullpen being a major area of concern all season, especially following the unexpected struggles of Alexis Diaz, the Reds have been on the lookout for additional relief help. Fortunately, the trade market is starting to take form, giving the team a potential avenue to add reinforcements. It’s shaping up to be a crucial time for the Reds as they look to make improvements and fortify their pitching staff for the stretch run.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote that the Nationals’ Kyle Finnegan is a prime candidate to be traded, and he cited the Reds as one of the possible destinations.
“Late-inning relievers are always in demand this time of year, so Finnegan – who has 18 saves and a 3.12 ERA in 26 appearances – should draw significant interest from a number of contenders,” Feinsand wrote. “An All-Star in 2024, Finnegan ranks in the 65th percentile in ground-ball rate (45.6%) and his 96.1 mph average fastball ranks in the 80th percentile.”
The other teams Feinsand links to Finnegan are the Blue Jays, Mets and Phillies.
For the Reds to seriously pursue a trade for someone like Finnegan, they’ll likely need to pick up the pace and solidify their position in the playoff race.
While they’re currently above .500, the NL Central is loaded with talent and remains tightly packed, making it tough to stand out. There’s no indication that Cincinnati should hit the reset button just yet, but investing future assets in a relief pitcher only makes sense if that addition pushes them closer to contention.
In the coming weeks, expect the Reds to stay in “assessment mode,” evaluating how their roster shapes up and whether a move like this would be the difference-maker they need. If they find enough reason to believe they can make a postseason push, don’t be surprised if they make a move to strengthen their bullpen.
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