Trade Deadline: Pirates, Cardinals, and Cubs for sale: Brewers, Reds wish list

Buying the NL Central: Cincinnati Reds wish list

On June 6, Elly De La Cruz joined the Reds as they sat third in the NL Central at 27-33 (.448). Playoff chances were finishing, and the team was preparing to become sellers after the All-Star break. De La Cruz started at third that night, hit a scorching double in his first at-bat, and would walk two more times that night; the Reds bested the second-place Dodgers (35-25) eight to nine.

Since that night, the Reds are 50-43 (.538), one game behind the Brewers for first in the NL Central. Losing the first two of a three-game series over the weekend, the Reds need to find a way to beat the Brewers and claim the division. To do this, they have to improve defensively, improve their bullpen and power to keep De La Cruz scoring.

First, to bolster the bullpen and get to closer Alexis Diaz, they need a few guys to get them through the middle innings. The Reds have allowed the fourth-most runs and hits in the league. Most of these come in the fifth through eighth innings. Detroit’s Alex Lange would be the guy on the Reds’ wish list. Striking out 48 batters in 37 innings of work closing out games would be an ideal setup man for Diaz. Nick Senzel and RHP Connor Phillips, and another prospect should get Lange to Cincinnati.

Next, Teoscar Hernández hasn’t hit as expected during his first season in Seattle. He is slashing an acceptable  .252/.301/.441 line with 15 homers over 85 games. He hasn’t been as impressive as he was over his past few years in Toronto, but Hernández has picked things up after a terrible first two months, and he’d add some separation for the Reds in the divison.

Tim Anderson of the White Sox is struggling in Chicago this year. However, the two-time All-Star would be an excellent clubhouse leader for the young and upcoming Reds. He has the potential to be a game-changer and is still young enough to extend for a multi-year deal while investing for the future. Sending top prospects Edwin Arroyo and Cam Collier, who play positions that the Reds have covered for a while with De La Cruz, Jonathan India, and Matt McLain, could yield relief pitcher Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn or Mike Clevinger in the Anderson deal and boost the rotation.