Reds trade idea sees Cincinnati replace T.J. Friedl as leadoff hitter, center fielder with $7.7 million All-Star MVP

Reds trade idea sees Cincinnati replace T.J. Friedl as leadoff hitter, center fielder with $7.7 million All-Star MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Reds’ center fielder T.J. Friedl has been struggling offensively this season, and has never really been a great hitter. Now, he’s batting leadoff, and for a Reds team that’s tied for first place in the NL Central, they need a solid leadoff hitter.

Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Shea proposes that they find their answer by trading with the Boston Red Sox for their All-Star outfielder, Jarren Duran. Duran is off to the same slow start as Friedl, but his ceiling after he warms up is so much higher.

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The trade would look like this:

Reds get: OF Jarren Duran

Red Sox get: CIN No. 5 prospect 1B/3B Cam Collier, CIN No. 7 prospect RHP Chase Petty, CIN No. 27 prospect RHP Deivi Villafana

“With the Cincinnati Reds off to an 11–7 start and leading the NL Central, this becomes a clear “go for it” move. Adding Jarren Duran gives them an immediate everyday impact bat who strengthens the top of the lineup with speed, defense, and consistency—helping maximize a legitimate playoff push…Ultimately, it’s a win-now deal built around capitalizing on a division-leading start and pushing for a deep postseason run,” Shea wrote.