A Potential Reds Trade Target in San Diego

Reds Could Target a Jake Cronenworth Trade

Cronenworth’s Contract

Cronenworth signed a 7-year, $80 million extension with the Padres back in April of 2023. The deal included a $2 million signing bonus. He will be owed about $12.285 million for the next five seasons, making him an unrestricted free agent in 2031.

At 31 years old, he certainly isn’t young, but he still has a few years ahead of him. Plenty of 36-year-old infielders are still kicking it around, and performing well too, and there is no indication that Cronenworth will suddenly drop off in his mid-30s.

Cronenworth’s Defensive Fit w/ Cincinnati: Pt. 1

Positional versatility is valued now more than ever, and Cronenworth can be one of the most valuable utility players for Cincinnati.

Games played per position 2025:

1B: 13 G/9 GS

2B: 118 G/111 GS

3B: 1 G/0 GS

SS: 13 G/10 GS

As shown above, Cronenworth is a true infield utility player. The good thing for him is that he most likely wouldn’t have to worry about third base, meaning he can put all his energy into first base, second base, and shortstop.

Barring injuries, the Gold Glover, and one of the best defenders in the league, Ke’Bryan Hayes, will be manning the hot corner. If Hayes needs off days or is out for a short amount of time, top prospect Sal Stewart can fill in as well.

First and second base will likely be Cronenworth’s main position if he finds himself on the Reds. The Reds are currently finding a stable first baseman. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is a big question mark right now, both performance and health-wise. Spencer Steer is a great defensive first baseman, but his bat has plateaued as of late and he can be moved in the offseason.

First Could Be Best

Cronenworth himself had a -1 DRS in 87 innings at first base in 2025, making him about league average defensively there. With more playing time at first base and more time to learn/adjust to the position, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he becomes an above-average defensive first baseman.

He has shown himself able to do so in the past, and the only reason he barely received any time at first base in 2025 was due to Luis Arráez only being able to play first base, pushing Cronenworth out of that spot.

Defensive Runs Saved at 1B:

2020: 78 innings / 3 DRS

2021: 171 1/3 innings / 1 DRS

2022: 72 2/3 innings / -1 DRS

2023: 844 innings / 1 DRS

2024: 715 1/3 innings / 0 DRS

2025: 87 innings / -1 DRS

Again, Cronenworth has shown the ability to be an above-average defensive first baseman with plenty of time there.

Cronenworth’s Defensive Fit w/ Cincinnati: Pt. 2

Another option is to platoon Cronenworth with Matt McLain at second base. McLain was Cincinnati’s everyday second baseman in 2025 and will be in 2026 as well, but he had a nightmare season at the plate.

McLain was one of the best defensive second basemen, as he recorded 4 OAA (87th percentile). However, DRS graded him out not as well with -6 DRS in 1172 2/3 innings there. Overall, defensive metrics are difficult to judge at times, and he is a well-above-average defender overall.

His offense ran into trouble in 2025, posting a .643 OPS and struggling overall. It was a disappointing year after he had an impressive rookie campaign in 2023 and missed all of 2024 with a shoulder injury.

This is where the platoon aspect comes in. McLain had a 90 wRC+ in 2025 against lefties, which is below average, yes, but was much better than his 73 wRC+ against righties. The Reds simply cannot run McLain out there for 600 or so plate appearances if the struggles persist. Platooning him with the left-handed swinging Cronenworth could be a solution, as Cronenworth had a 118 wRC+ against righties in 2025, and a career 116 wRC+ against righties.

Cronenworth is a righty masher, and McLain, despite the 90 wRC+ against lefties in 2025, had a 162 wRC+ in 2023 against righties. If they can find a middle ground, the duo would immediately be one of the better platoon duos in the league on both sides of the ball.

Cronenworth’s Offense

Offensively, we have gone over the fact that Cronenworth punishes righties, but his overall game is solid as well. He will not provide a ton of power as he had a .377 SLG in 2025 (.406 career slugging). He has hit 10, 17, and 11 home runs in the past three seasons, which is certainly not bad, but doesn’t scream “power hitter”.

However, moving from the pitcher-friendly Petco Park to the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park may help boost those numbers a little bit. That said, power hitting, while a necessity for the Reds, is not and will never be Cronenworth’s forte.

Cronenworth isn’t much of a contact hitter either, but he thrives at getting on base. In 2025, he had a career high 13.4 BB%, good for the 94th percentile league-wide. His 22.2 Chase% (86th percentile), 18.8 Whiff% (82nd percentile), and 20.8 K% (52nd percentile) are all strong as well.

Cronenworth’s 117 wRC+ in 2025 would be one of the best on this Reds team, with Elly De La Cruz being the only one near that mark in 2025. With a career 109 wRC+, the Reds are all but guaranteed to have a strong and versatile defensive player with consistent, above league-average offense.