GOOD NEWS: Major Reinforcement, The Reds Confirms Another Blockbuster Deal

The Cincinnati Reds are in trouble.

After a promising offseason and big hopes for their young core, the Reds have stumbled out of the gate in 2025. Their offense has been alarmingly quiet, outside of occasional sparks from Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain. But even those two have cooled off recently. Injuries to key contributors like Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson haven’t helped, though both are expected back soon.

Still, Cincinnati may need more than just internal reinforcements to turn things around—and quickly.

One intriguing trade target? Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad.

At 26, Kjerstad is a former top prospect who seems to have solidified his spot in the big leagues, but consistent everyday playing time remains elusive in Baltimore’s stacked outfield. With players like Colton Cowser, Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Anthony Santander in the mix, Kjerstad could be deemed expendable in the right deal.

Enter the Reds, who have a surplus of young arms—and an urgent need for offense. Left-hander Andrew Abbott stands out as a potential trade chip. The 24-year-old was a steady presence in Cincinnati’s rotation in 2024 and could bolster an Orioles staff that, while solid, still lacks a reliable lefty in the middle of the rotation.

A straight-up swap of Abbott for Kjerstad might favor the Reds, so Baltimore would likely need to add more—perhaps a mid-tier prospect or bullpen piece—to make the deal work. From the Orioles’ standpoint, Abbott is a controllable arm with postseason experience, and his addition could give them a more balanced rotation in both the short- and long-term.

For the Reds, the emergence of pitching prospects like Rhett Lowder, Chase Petty, and Chase Burns could make moving Abbott more palatable, especially if it nets them a young, MLB-ready bat like Kjerstad.

While nothing appears imminent, this is a trade framework that checks boxes for both sides—and could gain traction if the Reds’ offense doesn’t heat up soon.