Why the A’s Should Put Their Top Prospect on the Table for Reds' Hunter Greene

A talent like Greene typically doesn't just become available, but if he can be had, it's likely because he hasn't been the most durable starter. He topped out at 26 starts and 150 1/3 innings in 2024, then fell back to 19 starts and 107 2/3 innings this season. That said, landing high caliber players with injury risk and building up around them is part of why the Dodgers have had success.

The A's have young starters that they can plug in, but none of them will be as good as Greene right now. Those starters could be used as depth for if and when injuries arise.

In order to land Greene, the A's would likely have to part with the No. 3 prospect in baseball, Leo De Vries, and then some.

Using Baseball Trade Values as a guide, Greene has 76.10 points of projected value. De Vries has 56.6. Using their rough estimates to get an idea of what a trade could look like, it would be Greene heading to the A's in exchange for SS De Vries, RHP Braden Nett and OF/DH Devin Taylor. This isn't meant to be taken as absolute fact, but more to give us an idea of the caliber of a return.

One reason the Reds may be open to moving Greene is that they are looking for an upgrade on offense, and they have a number of solid arms under contract. Greene is an injury risk, and can also net them a huge return. It's a similar thought process to when the A's moved Mason Miller for De Vries and Nett in the first place.

Why Those Players?

Shortstop Leo De Vries is the No. 3 prospect in baseball and has already excelled in a quick look at Double-A. The A's may even be considering starting him at Triple-A Las Vegas depending on how his Spring Training goes. He's very advanced and should be a piece of the offense before long. The A's also have Jacob Wilson at short currently.

Nett is a solid pitcher, and is ranked as the A's No. 4 prospect in a top-10 farm system. Just 23, he figures to be in the A's plans before long as well.

Taylor was the A's second round pick in the 2025 draft and is the team's No. 6 overall prospect. There are some concerns about his glove in left, but his bat should have him move through the minor leagues at a quick pace. The A's don't necessarily have room for him at DH with Brent Rooker having been extended, so he could end up as a trade piece for a team that needs a bat.

This trade wouldn't give the Reds the most MLB-ready talent, but it would be fair value and set the club up nicely for potentially as soon as the second half of 2026 in some cases.

Would This Be Worthwhile for the A's?

It would be tough to move De Vries after A's fans have become accustomed to having one of the top prospects in baseball, but in terms of on-field product, this could be a huge move for the club. Greene is also accustomed to pitching in a hitter-friendly environment, and he ended up with a 1.58 ERA at Great American Ballpark this past season.

The main reason this one would make sense is that the A's wouldn't have to make many other moves this winter, outside of building up their depth. As we mentioned before, Greene would stabilize the rotation, while also providing more bullpen options for the club. They could go after someone for either second or third base, but Greene fixes the rest of their issues.

Plus, in order to land him (at least in the proposed deal we made), the A's wouldn't be touching their big-league roster. They'd just be adding a Cy Young caliber arm to a roster with a top-10 offense. That's a formula for success.

In essence, the Mason Miller and JP Sears trade would turn into a return of Hunter Greene, Eduarniel Nuñez, and Henry Baez, which would still net the A's more innings than they were getting out of Miller, plus their No. 8 and No. 16 prospects. That's still a worthwhile trade. It comes with some risk, but if it pans out, the A's could be a force beginning in 2026.