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The Cincinnati Reds are stacked with pitching talent this season. Their rotation is led by Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, and Brady Singer, with Andrew Abbott showing dominance since coming back from injury. Carson Spiers and Nick Martinez have had solid outings, and top prospect Rhett Lowder is expected to return from injury soon. Lowder’s return could shake up the roster and potentially lead to a trade involving one of the Reds’ key arms.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield speculated that Martinez might be on the trade block, although his hefty $21 million contract could make it difficult to move him. “The Reds’ offense has been dreadful, while the trio of Greene, Singer, and Lodolo has been outstanding,” Schoenfield noted.

“If the Cubs run away with the NL Central, other teams in the division may fall out of wild-card contention, especially with how strong the NL West looks early on. Martinez is a valuable swingman, but at $21 million, that’s about $7 million for two months—a steep cost for someone not guaranteed a playoff rotation spot.”

Martinez doesn’t necessarily have to be traded when Lowder returns. He played an important role in the bullpen last season and could easily shift back into that hybrid reliever/spot starter role. Still, if a team in dire need of pitching—like the Orioles or Yankees—comes calling, the Reds could benefit from a deal, either to improve this season or to build for the future.