Brady Singer Trade Rumors Heat Up as Reds Prepare to Sell: Which Contenders Should Chase the Right-Hander?
The Cincinnati Reds are open for business, and Brady Singer is one of the more attractive names on the shelf.
MLB Trade Rumors and multiple Reds beat writers have confirmed this week that Cincinnati is planning to trade players on expiring contracts ahead of the August 3 deadline. Singer sits at the top of that list. He is on an expiring deal, unlikely to re-sign with the Reds in the offseason, and pitching well enough to bring back a legitimate prospect package.
Any contender that needs starting pitching depth should be dialing Cincinnati right now.
Singer Is Pitching His Way Into Real Money
Since his first start in June, Singer has posted a 2.76 ERA with a 3.83 FIP and 46 strikeouts across 45.2 innings in eight starts. That is a legitimate midrotation performance during exactly the window where teams evaluate potential trade acquisitions. He picked the right time to get hot.
Singer is 29 years old and profiles as a solid number-three starter for any contender. His fastball command is dependable, his slider misses bats, and he throws enough strikes to keep games manageable even on nights when he does not have his best stuff. There is no ace ceiling here, but there is a very useful arm at the trade deadline.
The expiring contract makes him extra valuable to buyers. Teams can rent Singer for two months without committing significant future dollars. That is exactly the kind of chip contenders love to make at the deadline.
The Padres and Phillies Are the Obvious Fits
San Diego needs starting pitching depth. Singer would slot into the middle of the rotation behind the Padres’ front-end starters and give them a much more stable back-end option than they currently have. San Diego is chasing the Dodgers in the NL West and needs every arm it can find.
The Philadelphia Phillies are in a similar position. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola anchor the rotation, but the depth behind them has been shaky. Adding Singer would give Rob Thomson a real fourth starter for a potential playoff run.
Other potential landing spots include Boston, Detroit and Kansas City. Any team clinging to a playoff spot with a rotation question mark should be in on Singer.
The Reds Have More to Sell
Singer is not the only Reds player who could move. Tyler Stephenson is available. Eugenio Suarez is available. Nathaniel Lowe is available. Cincinnati is essentially clearing out any veteran on an expiring deal in exchange for prospects that can help the next competitive Reds team.
This is the right approach for a franchise that has been treading water for years. The Reds have young talent in the pipeline and need to add to it. Getting real prospect returns for veterans who are not part of the long-term plan is smart business.
The counterargument is that Cincinnati has been in this position multiple times over the past decade and has rarely converted deadline moves into legitimate long-term progress. This time needs to be different. That means getting more than just fringe prospects for Singer and the rest of the expiring pieces.
The Ask Is Going to Be Significant
Buyers should not expect a bargain. Singer’s recent form gives Cincinnati real leverage. The Reds should be able to get at least one legitimate top-ten organizational prospect back, plus a secondary piece. Anything less than that is a lost opportunity.
Expect a trade before the deadline. Expect at least two teams to be bidding against each other. And expect Singer to be pitching a playoff game in October for someone other than the Cincinnati Reds.
That is exactly how it should be. The Reds get their prospects, Singer gets his shot at the postseason, and everyone comes out ahead. Textbook trade deadline execution.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
