Colorado Rockies: Are the Cincinnati Reds a fit for Trevor Story?

The Cincinnati Reds are a team that has an uphill climb to get into the playoff picture.

With the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres having a firm grasp on the NL West title and the two Wild Card spots, the easiest way for teams in the NL Central (or the NL East) will be to win their division.

The Chicago Cubs are the next team behind the Padres for the second Wild Card spot and they are still six games out of the picture.

The Reds are right on the Cubs’ heels, though. The Reds are largely in playoff contention because of their offense and, in particular, their All-Star outfielders Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos, both of whom were selected to be starters in the NL outfield in the All-Star Game.

One of their biggest weaknesses has been at shortstop. Their primary shortstop has been Kyle Farmer, who hasn’t particularly been lighting the world on fire at the plate. Entering Friday, Farmer was hitting .222/.289/.330 with an OPS+ of 62 in 247 plate appearances. Overall, their offensive production at shortstop is 28th by wRC+.

Farmer, who has never had a great bat in the majors, is best as a utility man off the bench, as he has extensive time playing shortstop, first base, second base, third base, and catcher in the major leagues and/or the minor leagues. But he hasn’t been playing like an everyday player at the plate.

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story could be someone that the Reds are interested in

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Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, as you probably know, will be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market in the next few weeks and the Reds obviously have a need for a shortstop.

The problem for the Rockies will be the return for Story.

As Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted recently, teams don’t usually get a ton of quality in return for position player rentals but they get more quantity.

Unfortunately for the Rockies, getting one top ten prospect is realistic for them and three or so lower level prospects would likely complete the deal.

Tony Santillan (Reds #9 prospect) would be a pitcher that the Rockies would like to have, as the 24-year-old just made his MLB debut a few weeks ago against the Rockies in Cincinnati. He could slot as a starter or a reliever for the Rockies. Vladimir Gutierrez (Reds #12 prospect) is another player that could be a target for the Rockies as well.

Reds #20 prospect Case Williams is someone the Rockies obviously like since they drafted him in the 4th round of the 2020 draft but the Rockies traded him to the Reds along with Jeff Hoffman in return for minor league outfielder Jameson Hannah and relief pitcher Robert Stephenson. Considering that they liked him enough to draft him a year ago, the Rockies could even look to re-acquire him.

Cincinnati may be able to extend Story long term as well, as they have been known to have a fairly large payroll in comparison to their market size.

There are going to be a lot of teams that will be interested in Trevor Story but the Rockies have to a) pull the trigger on trading him (which is easier said than done) and b) the Reds have to decide to be buyers and pull off the deal.