Trade: Cincinnati Reds Fortify Bullpen with Rockies & Yankees Relievers

 

The Cincinnati Reds are well aware that their bullpen has been their Achilles heel this season, blowing innumerable games. They've made a couple of moves to address that, the latest by acquiring reliever Mychal Givens from the Colorado Rockies.

Givens goes to Reds. 2 pitchers including RHP Case Williams, go to Rockies. The other is another A level pitcher. Williams in earlier deal had gone the other way, from Colorado to Cincy.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 28, 2021

Givens gives the Reds a solid late-inning option, as he's compiled a 2.73 ERA this season, with the key stat of having surrendered only ONE run away from Coors Field (the only true measure of any pitcher!). 

The Reds send a couple of their Top 30 prospects to Colorado in return, righthanders Case Williams and Noah Davis. 

The other deal bolstering the Reds bullpen came late Tuesday night, as they acquired relief arms Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson from the New York Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees were basically clearing salary, perhaps in anticipation of a bigger addition on the way?

The Reds have only a 10.8% chance of making the playoffs, according to Fangraphs, but they feel that a rejuvenated bullpen will go a long way to reducing those odds. Cincinnati currently trails the 1st place New York Mets by 3.5 games in the NL East. 

Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports