Five Outfielders The Reds Should Target at the Deadline

The Cincinnati Reds are 51-47 after routing the New York Mets 8-4 in the first game of the second half. They are in the hunt for their first postseason appearance since 2020 but will need additional firepower.

Five Outfielders The Reds Should Target at the Deadline

Here are five outfielders they can realistically approach at the deadline.

Taylor Ward – (LF) – Dream Acquisition

Reds fans have been clamoring for Taylor Ward for the past two seasons. Seeing as the Angels are in somewhat of a competitive position this year, the chances of him being dealt is lower than it has been in previous years.

While Ward does not have the offensive peaks that some other options do, his consistency is his biggest value. Ward has maintained an OPS+ above 100 for six consecutive years now, including this season. He peaked at 136 OPS+ in 2022 with a low of 105 in 2020.

The reason this is so appealing for the Reds is the lack of consistency in their lineup. TJ Freidl can turn it up for a month then plateau to his usual .700 OPS self. Matt McLain had a terrific 2023 and at times, has looked great in 2025, but still has an OPS hovering around .600. Jake Fraley has looked lost at the plate for long stretches this year, but also has an occasional hot stretch.

It is unsustainable for a team to essentially do the “hope and pray” approach where they hope their hitters all click at the right time and go on a postseason push that way. Bringing in Ward would fix that issue immediately, as he is guaranteed to have an OPS+ at or around 115.

Ward is under team control for one more year following the 2025 season.

Luis Robert Jr. – (CF) – Realistic Acquisition

Reds fans, don’t get upset. Yes, Robert’s name holds more value than his performance, but there are still signs that he is capable of more.

Robert has been on the trade block for what seems like his entire career, as he is one of the last remaining pieces in the disastrous downfall of the Chicago White Sox.

Due to the Reds’ weak outfield and Robert’s elite potential/past performance, his name has been linked to the Reds for the past fews seasons now. However, many Reds fans are annoyed at the mere mention of his name, seeing as he has struggled mightily as of late and has shown to be injury prone.

In his only full season (2023), Robert played 145 games and logged a healthy 5.3 bWAR. He mauled the baseball on the way to 38 home runs and stole 20 bases as well. His .264/.315/.542 slash line gave him an .857 OPS and a 130 OPS+, the second highest of his career.

His 2021 season saw him reach a greater height than he did in 2023, but in less games as he only suited up for 68 contests. Still, it was a magnificent 68 game stretch, as Robert imploded for a .946 OPS and 154. It was a marvelous sophomore season for the Cuban slugger.

Unfortunately his 2024 and 2025 has produced nothing but disappointing numbers, with a .657 OPS and .599 OPS respectively. On the bright side, his walk rate has jumped up significantly as it is currently at 10.1%, a huge jump from the 4-6% range that he was at in previous years.

While it may indicate better plate discipline, it could also simply be that pitchers are avoiding him seeing as nobody else in the historically bad White Sox lineup can do any damage.

Roberts Value

This is one of the biggest reasons why fans are continuing to advocate for the acquisition of Robert despite his poor performance. It’s no secret that playing on the White Sox likely isn’t a joyous experience seeing as they are one of the worst teams ever. If Robert isn’t motivated playing on a directionless White Sox team and is being avoided by opposing pitchers, his numbers will naturally look bad. His top notch speed and defense is proof that he has not deteriorated physically even after all of his injuries, and that a change of scenery could unblock the 2023 version of Robert once again.

Robert is currently signed through the 2025 season and has club options for both 2026 and 2027.

Ramon Laureano – (RF/LF) – Realistic Acquisition

Laureano became somewhat of a household name in Oakland where he was known for his cannon of an arm in right field and occasional spurts of elite offense. He came out of the gates on fire, posting an .832 OPS in his rookie season in 2018. He followed that up with an even better .860 OPS in his sophomore season in 2019, his true breakout year.

Granted, these were the peak juiced ball era where everyone was pumping 20 home runs left and right. Perhaps Laureano were one of the beneficiaries of the juiced balls as in the seasons after the juiced ball era, he has failed to reach an OPS of .800.

That is, until his 64 game stretch in 2024 with the Atlanta Braves where he posted an .832 OPS. He has built on his impressive 2024 with an even better 2025, this time for the Baltimore Orioles.

This season, Laureano has played in 68 games, and is slashing .284/.350/.517 for an .867 OPS and 143 OPS+, by far the highest of his career, far surpassing his 2019.

Interestingly enough, not many people are mentioning his name when it comes to his performance or his trade value, which can be explained by his P80 game PED suspension back in 2021.

With the Orioles seemingly back to their old losing ways, Laureano is definitely a name that the Reds would be ecstatic to bring in to continue mashing at Great American Ball Park.

Laureano is signed through the 2025 season and has a player option for 2026.

Jesus Sanchez – (RF) –  Safe Aquisition

Sanchez is an interesting piece to bring in, as his prodigious power has flashed on some highlight tapes. Despite this, most fans do not realize the actual value he brings. This is likely because he plays in Miami, a cesspool of mediocrity. Fortunately, playing in Miami can also be the reason he can be dealt at the deadline. It may even come at a lower value that he should be traded for as well.

In his past three seasons, he has played 125, 149 and 76 (and counting) games total. In these seasons, he has a 104, 100, and 104 OPS+ respectively. Much like Taylor Ward, Sanchez’s consistency is the most appealing part of his game. Once again, consistency is something the Reds desperately need.

If Sanchez can be an above average hitter in Miami’s cavernous ballpark, he can definitely take advantage of the hitter friendly Great American Ball Park.

Furthermore, Sanchez’s batted ball metrics are absolutely electric:

.354 xwOBA – 73rd percentile

.272 xBA – 67th percentile

92.0 MPH Average Exit Velocity – 86th percentile

.495 xSLG – 79th percentile

12.0 Barrel% – 73rd percentile

75.7 MPH Bat Speed – 94th percentile

As shown, his expected stats stand much higher than his current stats. Making the transition to Cincinnati could put Sanchez into another level, something Reds fans should be excited about.

Sanchez is under team control for two more years following the 2025 season.

Christopher Morel – (LF) – Risky Acquisition

Morel has had hype around his name in the past. However, he would likely be a “last resort” kind of trade deadline acquisition.

His lack of defensive identity is what causes the most concern, and honestly, so does his offense. He peaked in 2023, where he posted an .821 OPS and 122 OPS+ for the Chicago Cubs. Since then, he has not seen his OPS+ reach even above 100, with his highest being 94 this season.

Morel is slashing .221/.291/.407 for a .698 OPS this season on the Tampa Bay Rays. He has seen his role diminish as the season progresses.

His strikeout issues remain the main knock on his game, something the Reds simply do not need more of. His potential is certainly exciting. For a team with postseason aspirations like the Reds though, it is a risky deal to make. They shouldn’t call Tampa Bay about Morel unless they plan on using him off the bench or if all other options are gone.

Morel is under team control for three more years following the 2025 season.