What if the Cincinnati Reds actually don’t choose to be sellers at the trade deadline?
What if they double-down on faith in their Hall of Fame manager and in the frontline talent on the roster to get healthy enough, hungry enough and hot enough on the back half of the schedule to make the October run they envisioned before they nose-dived into last place?
It might be the stuff of fanboy/girl fantasies in a world of billion-dollar franchises and tightly-wadded Reds millions riding on trade deadline decisions.
But if they did choose to add at the Aug. 3 deadline, at least five second half roster additions might have a chance to help make that kind of fantasy come true.
For anyone choosing to dream, here are those five – and the reasons why:
1. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz
The Reds’ two-time All-Star has been out all month with a hamstring injury, but his rehab process has been on such a fast track that he’s scheduled to be back this week for the middle game of the Reds’ first series of the season against NL Central-leading Milwaukee on Tuesday.
The mere return of the high-impact, power-speed switch-hitter to a lineup built around him figures to be one of the most significant developments of the rest of the season for the struggling lineup (they’re 6-11, with 3.7 runs a game, without him through June 20).
But the fact De La Cruz got a rare midseason break – however unwanted and unfortunate – should make the impact even greater if it means he’s fresher and healthier in the second half than he was last year, when he played through a quad injury that stole his speed and sapped his power. He already looked like the best version of his career self in the first half before the injury.
And did you catch that first rehab game for Louisville? All he did was reach base with a single, walk and an estimated 440-foot home run.
2. Right-hander Hunter Greene
A powerful start to his rehab assignment last week in Arizona suggests a return from the injured list before the All-Star break, which could mean 16 or 17 starts the rest of the way for the Reds’ ace, who hasn’t pitched all season after undergoing elbow surgery in March to remove bone chips.
His triple-digit fastball already on display during that first rehab start, a 54-pitch, scoreless four innings in which he struck out six and gave up two hits.
As good as Greene is under any circumstances at the front of the Reds rotation, the low mileage on his arm down the stretch could mean midseason form during a meat-grinder September and relative freshness and strength by the time it might lead to October baseball.
3. Right-hander Emilio Pagán
The Reds closer has been on the IL since blowing his left hamstring throwing a ninth-inning pitch May 5. But he might be back on a timeline similar to Greene’s, which would give the Reds a sudden, simultaneous boost to the front and back end of games.
He arguably hasn’t been right even when he was pitching regularly, getting off to a slow start the first week, then pitching through a mild hamstring strain the back half of April.
If he’s healthy enough after the lengthy rehab to replicate the kind of performance that led to 32 saves and a 2.88 ERA last year, the Reds’ beat-up bullpen is back in business for the second half.
4. Right-hander Pierce Johnson
Did somebody say beat-up bullpen? A few weeks after Pagán went down, the Reds lost setup ace Graham Ashcraft (possibly for the year) and Johnson to elbow issues in quick sequence. The bullpen has been in chaos since.
Johnson, the $6.5 million veteran signed in the offseason, could be back so quickly that – wait a minute. Dude was spotted in the Reds’ clubhouse after Saturday’s game in New York, following a one-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.
Just in time for that big Brewers series, when he was expected to be activated for the June 22 series opener.
If all of this helps the club rally for another playoff berth, Johnson’s the guy with the 1.50 ERA in 12 career postseason appearances for the Padres and Braves, including a streak of seven straight scoreless outings he would take into his next one.
5. CF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Remember, this is fantasyland, Reds-being-aggressive stuff.
So if they actually want to double-down on those playoff visions, go get Buxton.
The best hitter, slugger, defender and base runner in the anticipated marketplace this trade season would be a perfect fit for a Reds team that could use the help in all those areas.
He’s also under club control for the next two seasons after this one, at about $15.1 million per.
Now they just have to fork over the player capital, overlook the injury history, swallow the payroll hit the next two years, and – this is the big one – persuade Buxton that being a Red will be just as desirable to him as being a Twin.
Dude has a full no-trade clause, said last year he wants to stay in Minnesota for the rest of his career, and as recently as last week suggested he’s loathe to waive his no-trade rights this summer, telling the Athletic, “I’m a Twin.”
It’s getting late fast this season. But there’s still time to dream.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Playoffs? Playoffs!? Maybe these 5 could make dream come true for Reds
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
