Trade Deadline Dilemma: Cincinnati Reds Labeled ‘Tweeners’ by ESPN

Jeff Passan of ESPN.com wrote his early 2025 MLB trade deadline preview.

He put the Cincinnati Reds in the "tweeners" category, which means they are caught in between buying and seliing at the deadline.

He mentioned Nick Martinez is their best player that would potentially be available.

"Among Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer, and Martinez, they've got one of the most productive rotations in the big leagues," Passan wrote. "Even at $7 million for the final two months of the season, Martinez is steady enough to make that investment reasonable for another team. Singer, also a free agent after the season, will put up 150-plus innings of league-average pitching. There are bullpen options aplenty as well, with Emilio Pagán closing and Taylor Rogers andBrent Suter suitable left-handed options. Outfielder Austin Hays has been the best version of himself this season."

The Reds are currently 29-32 on the season and would seemingly need to get hot and go on a couple of win streaks if they're going to seriously consider buying at the deadline.

Their starting pitching had the third-best ERA in Major League Baseball, but they have scored three runs or less in 29 of their 62 games and have been shut out nine times.

Cincinnati needs offense, but it's unlikely they will "buy" if the team is already out of playoff contention.

You can see Passan's full trade deadline preview here.