Cincinnati Reds Roster
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The Los Angeles Angels have shown interest in a trade with Cincinnati Reds starter Luis Castillo, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. They have engaged in "preliminary" talks, but the two clubs are far from a deal as the Reds have set a high price tag. Castillo got off to a poor start on the mound this season but figured things out after May. He ended up with a 3.98 ERA, 192 strikeouts, and a 1.36 WHIP in 33 starts and 187.2 innings after posting a 4.65 first-half ERA. The 28-year old still has two years of control, so the team is not in a rush to trade him. The Angels have been on the search for pitching this offseason, previously signing Noah Syndergaard to a one-year deal, but aren't satisfied yet.
The Cincinnati Reds are once again believed to be open to trading right-hander Sonny Gray this offseason, but they've indicated to rival executives that starters Tyler Mahle and Luis Castillo are off limits. Mahle and Castillo are both controllable through the 2023 season. Gray has a $10 million base salary next season and can be retained through a $12 million club option for the 2023 season. The veteran right-hander has a 3.49 ERA with a 10.6 K/9 in his three seasons with the Reds, but he recently turned 32 years old and was on the injured list three separate times with three separate injuries in 2021. Gray had a 4.19 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 155 strikeouts and 50 walks in 135 1/3 innings over his 26 starts last season.
The Cincinnati Reds have made several roster moves ahead of Friday's deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 draft, adding top prospect Hunter Greene and four others to the 40-man roster. Greene, the top pitching prospect in the Cincinnati system, was originally selected as a two-way player at shortstop and pitcher with the second overall pick in the 2017 draft. He has since undergone Tommy John surgery, but performed well in 2021 with a 3.30 ERA and 31.7 strikeout percentage across two minor league levels. With the Reds entering a rebuild, it's likely Greene will see his first major-league action this year. He should be rostered in all dynasty leagues and is a potential late-round stash in redraft formats.
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India won the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year award on Monday. India received 29 of the 30 first-place votes and becomes the eighth Reds player to win the award. Marlins pitcher Trevor Rogers received the only other first-place vote. India had an excellent season for the Reds by hitting .269/.376/.459 with 21 home runs and 69 RBI in 150 games in 2021. He also led the NL by being hit by pitches 23 times and led Cincy with 12 stolen bases and 98 runs scored. India led all major league rookies in games played, on-base percentage, doubles (34), walks (71) and runs scored and was second with an .835 OPS. The 24-year-old was the fifth overall pick out of the University of Florida in 2018.
According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Seattle Mariners "are among the teams to check in with the #Reds on right-hander Luis Castillo." Seattle, coming off a 90-win season, could use the rotation reinforcements to bolster a group that struggled, at times, outside of Chris Flexen and Logan Gilbert. Adding a pitcher like Castillo would certainly help the Mariners in their push for the playoffs. Joining a potential playoff team with a quality infield defense wouldn't exactly hurt Castillo's fantasy potential either.