Few teams in Major League Baseball are having a tougher time than the Cincinnati Reds right now. The offense has been nearly nonexistent outside of contributions from Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain, and even they have cooled off after strong starts. The Reds have little help on the way from Triple-A, though they are expecting Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson to return from the injured list soon.
To avoid a full-blown collapse, the Reds might need to shake things up with a trade. One possible target? Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad. The 26-year-old was a top prospect in Baltimore’s system and now seems to have locked in a major league role, though he’s still vying for consistent playing time. With Baltimore’s deep roster, they could afford to move Kjerstad in exchange for pitching help—something the Reds have plenty of.
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A potential trade could involve the Reds sending left-hander Andrew Abbott to the Orioles for Kjerstad and additional pieces. While the Orioles would likely need to include more to land the reliable starter, the core of the trade could benefit both sides. Abbott would bolster Baltimore’s rotation long-term, while the Reds could immediately upgrade their lineup.
With Rhett Lowder eyeing a return and young pitchers like Chase Petty and Chase Burns nearing their MLB debuts, Cincinnati may struggle to find room for Abbott anyway. This kind of move could help the Reds boost their offense and give Baltimore the pitching edge it needs for sustained success.
