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Reds Emerge as Prime Landing Spot for Ex-No. 1 Overall Pick
Cincinnati Reds Dream Target: Why Jackson Holliday Could Be the Perfect Fit
The Big Picture: Reds at the Trade Deadline
The MLB trade deadline is like a giant swap meet for baseball teams. Some teams are buyers (trying to win right now), and others are sellers (trading away players for future building blocks).
Right now, the Cincinnati Reds look like sellers. They have several good players whose contracts are expiring soon, meaning they could leave for free this winter. Smart teams trade these players now to get something valuable in return.
Important Point: When a player is on an "expiring contract," it means their deal ends after this season. They can sign with any team next year, so their current team often trades them to get prospects (young, talented players) instead of losing them for nothing.
Reds Players Who Could Be Traded (Expiring Contracts)
- Brady Singer – Starting pitcher
- Tyler Stephenson – Catcher
- Eugenio Suárez – Third baseman
- Nathaniel Lowe – First baseman
- Caleb Ferguson – Relief pitcher
The Twist: Reds Might Also Be Buyers (But Smart Ones)
Here’s where it gets interesting. The Reds aren’t just looking to sell—they might buy "controllable" players.
Important Point: A "controllable player" is a young player the team can keep for several years at a relatively low cost (usually before they hit free agency). Think of it like having a star player on a budget-friendly, multi-year deal.
Two ways they could do this:
- Trade expiring players to contenders → Get young, controllable talent back
- Send prospects to a selling team → Get a proven young star who’s still controllable
The Dream Target: Jackson Holliday
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently named the Reds as one of the top landing spots for Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday.
Who Is Jackson Holliday? (ELI5 Version)
Imagine a baseball player who was:
- #1 overall pick in the 2022 draft (best amateur player available)
- #1 prospect in ALL of baseball entering 2024 (best young player not yet in majors)
- Only 22 years old (super young for the big leagues)
- Having a career-best year with a 118 OPS+ (18% better than league average hitter)
- Healthy and hitting well since returning from a broken hand bone (hamate)
His 2025 Stats (58 games):
- Batting Average: .261
- On-Base %: .367 (gets on base a lot!)
- Slugging %: .401 (hits for some power)
- Extra-Base Hits: 11
Important Point: OPS+ combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage, then adjusts for ballpark and league. 100 is average. 118 means he’s been 18% better than a typical MLB hitter this year.
Why Holliday Is a Perfect Fit for Cincinnati
1. Timeline Matches the Young Core
The Reds are building around young stars who will peak together:
- Elly De La Cruz (superstar shortstop)
- Sal Stewart (top infield prospect)
- Chase Burns (top pitching prospect)
- Other young core pieces
Holliday (22) fits this exact same timeline. They’d all reach their prime together.
2. Solves a Real Positional Need
- Matt McLain (current 2B/SS) has struggled for years
- Edwin Arroyo is a prospect option, but…
- Holliday has a MUCH higher floor (safer bet) AND higher ceiling (superstar potential)
3. Rare Opportunity: Star Talent Actually Available
It’s shocking a player this talented, young, and productive is even on the trade block. Usually, teams lock these guys up for a decade. The Orioles have so much infield talent they might move him—and the Reds should pounce.
How a Trade Could Work (Simplified)
- Reds offer package of prospects + maybe an expiring contract player (like Singer or Stephenson)
- Orioles evaluate if they prefer immediate help (for playoff push) or more prospects
- Deal gets done if both sides see value
- Holliday puts on a Reds uniform and plays 2B/SS next to Elly De La Cruz for years
Summary
| What’s Happening | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Reds likely sellers at deadline | Can trade expiring contracts for assets |
| But also seeking controllable talent | Building for sustained winning, not just rentals |
| Jackson Holliday available | Rare chance to add 22-year-old former #1 prospect |
| Holliday hitting well (118 OPS+) | Proving he can hit at MLB level after injury |
| Fits Reds’ young core timeline | De La Cruz, Stewart, Burns + Holliday = scary good infield |
| Better than internal options | Higher floor & ceiling than McLain or Arroyo |
Bottom line: Landing Jackson Holliday would be a home run move for the Reds’ front office. He checks every box: age, talent, control, position need, and timeline. If the price is right, Cincinnati should do whatever it takes to make him a Red.
FAQ
Why would the Orioles trade a former #1 prospect who’s only 22 and hitting well?
Great question! The Orioles have an embarrassment of riches at infield. They have Gunnar Henderson (SS), Jordan Westburg (2B/3B), Coby Mayo (3B), and more top prospects knocking. They can’t play them all, so they might trade from strength to address other needs (like pitching).
What does "controllable" mean exactly?
It means the team holds the player’s rights for several more years at pre-free-agency prices. For Holliday, the Orioles (or Reds) would control him through 2030 before he hits free agency. That’s 5+ years of cost certainty.
Would the Reds have to trade Elly De La Cruz or Hunter Greene to get Holliday?
Absolutely not. Those are untouchable franchise cornerstones. A deal would likely center on top prospects (like Arroyo, Burns, or others) + expiring contract players (Singer, Stephenson) who help Baltimore now.
What if Holliday gets hurt again? He broke his hamate bone.
Valid concern! But hamate bone fractures are usually a one-time fix—once the bone is removed, the issue rarely recurs. Since returning, he’s been healthy and productive. All players carry injury risk.
When is the trade deadline? Can this actually happen?
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is July 31st. Yes, this can absolutely happen—Reuter’s report means credible insiders see the Reds as a logical, motivated suitor. Whether a deal gets done depends on Orioles’ asking price and Reds’ willingness to pay.
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