The Cincinnati Reds made the playoffs for the first time in five years, and immediately got swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. While they did lose, they also learned what it’s going to take to try and compete in the playoffs.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline proposes that the Reds should look to upgrade their offense and should target San Diego Padres All-Star and batting champ, Luis Arraez. Arraez would provide constant offense for the Reds, who lack stability in that area.
“Arráez has spent time all over the infield defensively (although never with much success glove-wise). The Cincinnati Reds would need to get creative, perhaps bumping Spencer Steer to the outfield or icing Ke'Bryan Hayes in certain matchups. But even if he's just a situational bat at the end of the day, Arráez has value — and he shouldn't cost Cincinnati, a team in desperate need of offensive stability, an arm and a leg,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Arraez slashed.292/.327/.392/.719 with 30 doubles, eight home runs, and 61 RBI in 154 games played. However, in past seasons, he’s had an average as high as.354 and has had multiple 200-hit seasons.
Arraez could play anywhere in the infield, and the Red could do what Landers proposed, or slot Arraez in over Matt McLain at second base. Either way, they have many options to choose from.
Hopefully, this is something the Reds pursue. If they truly want to remain playoff contenders, acquiring a player like Arraez is the right choice.
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