The Cincinnati Reds made their first move ahead of the July 30 trade deadline by acquiring outfielder Austin Slater and cash from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for left-handed reliever Alex Young. Slater, 31, has a .200 batting average with a .574 OPS and one homer in 43 games this season. He has spent eight seasons with the Giants, hitting .254 with a .735 OPS and 39 homers in 593 games. In addition to playing outfield, Slater has some experience at first base.
The Reds needed reinforcements for their lineup as they are dealing with multiple injuries. First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand is out for the season with a fractured right hand and ligament damage. Outfielder/first baseman Nick Martini is expected to be sidelined for an extended period with a sprained left thumb. Catcher Luke Maile is on the injured list with a back injury, and outfielder TJ Friedl is still out with a strained right hamstring. Infielder Jeimer Candelario has been playing through tendinitis in his right knee.
Alex Young, 30, was pitching for Triple-A Louisville with a 1.19 ERA in 23 appearances before the trade. He had landed on the 60-day disabled list due to lumbar disk degeneration suffered during spring training. Young made three appearances for the Reds this season, pitching two scoreless innings. In 2023, he went from a non-roster invitee to a key member of the Reds’ bullpen, posting a 3.86 ERA in 63 games. Young had previously played for the Giants in the 2022 season.
This trade provides the Reds with an experienced outfielder in Slater, who can also add depth at first base if needed. While Young had shown promise in the bullpen, injuries and a crowded rotation prompted the Reds to make this move to bolster their lineup. The Reds will look to Slater to provide a boost to their offense and help fill the void left by the injured players. The Giants, meanwhile, acquire a left-handed reliever in Young who has shown potential in the past and could contribute to their bullpen down the stretch. Both teams will hope that this trade benefits their respective rosters as they push towards the postseason.
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