The MLB trade deadline is approaching this Thursday, and the Cincinnati Reds seem to be looking to add pieces for a playoff push in August and September. In their first move, the Reds made a deal involving a former Kentucky pitcher.
A left-handed reliever, has made 40 appearances out of the Cincinnati bullpen this season, pitching 33 innings with a solid 2.45 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. However, the 34-year-old has struggled with a career-high walk rate of 13% and has had difficulty getting both left-handed batters and inherited runners out. As the Reds searched for a starting third baseman, Rogers was included in the trade to balance salaries.
A Colorado native, Rogers was drafted in the 37th round of the 2009 MLB Draft but opted to play college baseball instead. He finished his collegiate career with a 6-4 record and a 4.82 ERA as a starter for head coach Gary Henderson at Kentucky.
Rogers eventually went pro, being selected in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and has been in the majors ever since. In 2021, Rogers earned an All-Star nod at age 30. Over his career, he has moved around the league, playing for the Twins (2016-21), San Diego Padres (2022), Milwaukee Brewers (2022), San Francisco Giants (2023-24), and now, the Reds.
Now, Rogers heads to Pittsburgh, becoming a part of his sixth MLB franchise. The Reds are hoping that the acquisition of Ke’Bryan Hayes will improve their defense and push them closer to a wild-card spot. However, for this small-market team, more moves may be necessary if they want to make a serious playoff push.
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