The inclusion of Taylor Rogers in the Ke’Bryan Hayes deal seemed confusing until the Cincinnati Reds acquired Tampa Bay Rays starter Zack Littell and shoved Nick Martinez back into a bullpen role.
Rogers, of course, was set to become a free agent in a few months, but Cincinnati had very publicly expressed a desire to improve the bullpen. Ultimately, trading the steady lefty may come back to haunt the Reds.
It actually didn’t take too long for the flaw in the trade to become apparent. Hayes committed a costly miscue during his first game in a Reds uniform, and Sam Moll, now one of just two southpaws in the ‘pen, allowed four earned runs in the back-and-forth loss.