Moving into the short-term rental arena reflects the Atlanta Braves’ moves at last year’s deadline. I expect them to do the same thing this year and have two names on my list that fit the bill, starting with Tyler Naquin.
Atlanta Braves rent from the Reds
Naquin is a 31-year-old left fielder originally selected by the Indians in the first round – fifteenth overall – of the 2012 draft. He had a big year for Cleveland in 2015 but never became the everyday power-bat the club expected, primarily due to his struggles against righties.
The Indians non-tendered him after the 2020 season, and the Reds signed him to a one-year $1.5M deal. Maybe it was the Skyline Chili – ugh- but Naquin suddenly looked like the player Cleveland drafted.
He found his stroke against RHP, batting .283/.339/.514/.853 and hitting 18 homers in 350 PA against righties. On the season, he batted .270/.333/.477/.809 and hit 19 homers in 127 games – 454 PA – last year, to finish the season with 110 wRC+ and a .345 wOBA.
Naquin’s have the same kind of year in 2022, batting .272/.342/.505/.847 with four homers against RHP and .255/.315/.460 overall. Defensively, Naquin’s a league-average left fielder.
Proposed deal:
Knowing how the Reds feel about payroll, I think they’ll be glad to move the remainder of his $4M salary for a small return like Trey Harris.
The Naquin trade is a typical Alex Anthopoulos deal.
Likelihood Naquin is traded: 99%.
Handy Andy
I wanted the Atlanta Braves to grab Andrew Benintendi three years ago, but they passed, and he ended up in Kansas City.
The Red Sox traded Benintendi to the Royals for Franchy Cordero and others in a massive three-team swap that involved the Mets; a salary dump after the Sox 2015 first-round pick has a rough 2020 season.
Benintendi recovered with the Royals to bat .276/.324/.442/.766 and hit 17 homers in 2021.
He’s off to a strong start in the walk-year of his contract, batting .298/.363/.396/.759 with three homers, 11 doubles, and three triples for KC this year.
Sabermetrically, he’s posted 120 wRC+, a .396 wOBA, and lowered his K-rate to 14.7% while maintaining a 9.6% walk rate.
The Royals like Benintendi a lot, but they could decide to trade the soon-to-be 28-year-old outfielder to add depth, then try to sign him again in the offseason.
Proposed Deal:
His age and numbers make him more expensive than Naquin, but they clear the remainder of his $8.5M salary with the trade. I expect the bidding to get involved, but Waters and Freddy Tarnok seem a fair return.
Benintendi and Waters shared identical scouting scores, except Waters is faster. If you’d like Waters without the strikeouts, Benintendi’s your guy.
Likelihood Benintendi is traded: 75%.