Reds urged to trade for 2-time All-Star before Opening Day originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It would be a shock to see the Cincinnati Reds pull off a major trade in the next day-plus before they take the field on Opening Day.
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But never say never.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has put together a list of deals that could still make sense before the season officially arrives, and one involves a big swap between the Reds and the Seattle Mariners.
The suggestion would acquire Randy Arozarena from the Mariners.
It sends infield prospect Edwin Arroyo and left-handed pitching youngster Brandon Williamson to Seattle.
Both those prospects actually used to be in the Mariners’ organization before they were involved in the Luis Castillo and Eugenio Suarez trades in 2022.
“Wouldn’t it be fun for them to bring those former top prospects back home?” Miller writes.
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MORE: Cal Raleigh was supposed to play for the Braves
Arozarena would be a major pickup for the Reds, who lack thump in their lineup even after adding Suarez this offseason.
“What we do know is that Arozarena and José Ramírez are the only players to have amassed at least 20 home runs and at least 20 stolen bases in each of the past five seasons, that Arozarena hit a career-high 27 home runs last season and that the Reds would’ve loved to have had anyone on their 2025 roster reach at least 25 dingers,” Miller writes. “Though they did bring back Suárez to help with that HR plight, Cincinnati’s outfield situation heading into Opening Day is looking like Noelvi Marte in right, Spencer Steer in left and TJ Friedl in center with Will Benson and Dane Myers as the reserves—none of whom is exactly irreplaceable.”
Arozarena also had the odd feud with Cal Raleigh over a handshake at the World Baseball Classic, one which isn’t clear how serious or joking it really is, but it’s another narrative out there.
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No, a deal like this doesn’t seem likely to happen. But if it did, it’d be an exciting one for the Reds.