Cincinnati Reds fans have been screaming for the organization to add some thump to the middle of the lineup, but outside of the failed attempt to sign Middletown native Kyle Schwarber, the front office has done nothing to address the roster's fatal flaw this offseason. The Reds ranked 21st in both home runs and slugging percentage last season.
While free agent upgrades like Eugenio Suárez and Miguel Andujar continue to linger on the open market, the most likely scenario for the Reds to bolster their lineup will come through a trade. Cincinnati has limited payroll flexibility this winter, and finding a pre-arb or arbitration-eligible bat would be the cheapest route to take.