In this Reds trade rumors update, the Cincinnati Reds are looking at Tampa Bay Rays infielder Ben Zobrist as a potential trade option to boost their sagging fortunes at second base.
Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, "the Giants are considered atop the teams most interested in 2B/RF Ben Zobrist; the Reds and Mariners among others."
Zobrist is posting a .266/.352/.401 (113 OPS+) line so far in 83 games with Tampa this season, providing one of the lone bright spots in a Rays starting lineup that has seen its share of troubles in 2014.
In an attempt to patch up the second base position, the Reds have turned to young Kristopher Negron as a potential stopgap option - promoting him from Triple-A Louisville earlier in the week. However, adding a veteran like Zobrist could be a boon for Negron from a learning perspective while giving the Reds a reliable bat to slot in at second.
The 33-year-old second baseman and two-time MLB All-Star has a $7.5 million team option in his contract for 2015 with a $500,000 buyout. If the Reds do swing a trade for him, expect them to pick up his option without question during the offseason.
Follow our Cincinnati Reds team page for the latest Reds trade rumors!
Back to the Cincinnati Reds Newsfeed