The Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins quietly pulled off an under-the-radar trade ahead of the new year. The Dodgers shipped speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz to the Marlins in exchange for Minor League pitcher Adriano Merrero. While the move itself will have little effect on the Cincinnati Reds, the fallout from the trade could provide Nick Krall and the front office with an unexpected opportunity.
In order to fit Ruiz onto the 40-man roster, the Marlins designated Eric Wagaman for assignment. The longtime New York Yankees prospect hit just .250/.296/.378 last season for the Fish, but his Minor League statistics, defensive versatility, and a few underlying metrics suggest that adding Wagaman could help bolster the Reds depth in 2026.