Cincinnati Reds trade with Los Angeles Dodgers can pay long term benefits
By David Hill
The Cincinnati Reds may have sacrificed two of their top prospects to acquire Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood, but they can still reap long term benefits from this deal.
It is easy to see the motivation behind the Cincinnati Reds trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. For Los Angeles, they get to move on from the contract of Matt Kemp, and by including Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood in the deal, free up roster space for their younger players. For the Reds, they can finally be rid of the albatross that is Homer Bailey, even though it cost two highly regarded prospects in Josiah Gray and Jeter Downs. The Dodgers free up space under the luxury tax, and the Reds major league roster improves. It is the type of deal where both sides can walk away feeling as though they achieved their objectives.
Yet, for the Reds, there are questions about the long term feasibility of the trade. Wood is a free agent after the coming season, while Puig is a free agent after the 2019 season. Both players will help the Reds improve this season, but the cost of Downs and Gray is a steep price for an improvement that is not likely to be nearly enough in a strong NL Central.
Just because the Reds traded away two highly regarded prospects does not mean that this deal will not help the team for the long term. While Cincinnati may not be able to contend next year, or the year after, this trade has brought in two assets that could be intriguing to teams at the trade deadline.
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When it comes to the postseason push, there is no such thing as too much pitching. Wood has been a solid option when healthy throughout his career, posting a lifetime 3.29 ERA and a 1.215 WHiP, striking out 738 batters with just 229 walks in his 803.1 innings.
Puig, meanwhile, has been more of an enigma. He has his moments of greatness, but also those moments of being maddening. Throughout it all, he has been a solid run producer at the plate, putting together a lifetime .279/.353/.478 batting line with 108 homers and 129 doubles. Puig also has a cannon for an arm, keeping teams from taking extra bases on balls hit to right.
Even though the Reds have an eye towards improvement next year, they still have quite a way to go before being able to push the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals for the division. Puig and Wood will help, but they may prove to be more valuable in regards to what they bring back for the Reds future. Just reaching their career averages would be enough to make either player valuable come the trade deadline.
Next. Reds top ten prospects. dark
The Cincinnati Reds have improved their roster in the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In acquiring Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood, they may be improving their future as well.