The Cincinnati Reds' season is quickly slipping away, and if the team can't turn things around soon, it will be in a position to sell at the trade deadline.Cincinnati has some pieces that will interest other clubs. Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman are going to be hot names come July. Marlon Byrd, Brayan Pena and Jay Bruce could be some other names involved in trade rumors this summer.It would make sense to trade some, but maybe not all, of those players. Cueto, Leake and Pena are all entering the final year of their contracts. In order to make sure that they don't lose those players for nothing this offseason, the Reds would be wise to explore the market this summer.This season is still fairly young, so this team can still make a run to get back into contention. But if the Reds are out of contention when the trade deadline approaches, here are two deals that would just make too much sense for the club not to try to do.Johnny Cueto to the New York YankeesCueto is one of the best pitchers in baseball. The New York Yankees (4.45 ERA) have one of the worst starting rotations in the game. Again, Cueto is only under contract through the end of the season. The Yankees, of course, can spend as much money as they want.It seems like the perfect match, right'Cueto-to-the-Yankees makes sense for both teams. The 29-year-old would immediately give the Yankees, who are just outside of a playoff spot, an ace. Plus, acquiring the right-hander could give the Yankees the inside track to signing him in free agency. For the Reds, it would give them a chance to get something in return for their star pitcher.New York has the prospects to get a deal done. It's just a matter of how much the team is willing to give up for perhaps just half a season of Cueto's services. The Reds would undoubtedly be interested in, among others, catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Aaron Judge. Would the Yankees part ways with either of those top prospects' Perhaps not. But it's worth exploring.There may not be a trade in baseball that would make more sense than Cincinnati sending Cueto to the Bronx. If the Yankees find themselves just on the outside of the playoff chase in July, they could get desperate and want to make a big move for a stud pitcher. If that's the case, the Reds are just one call away.Mike Leake to the Boston Red SoxThere's really not a bad fit for a pitcher like Leake, but the Boston Red Sox may be the best fit of any team.Boston (5.08 ERA) has an even worse rotation than New York. The pitching staff as a whole has been such a disaster that it cost the pitching coach his job earlier this month.Leake was one of the best pitchers in baseball through his first seven starts. He has had back-to-back rough starts his last two times out, but given that he has a good track record, that's nothing to worry about. The 27-year-old has had an ERA above 3.86 just once in the past four seasons. Consistency and stability like that is exactly what Boston needs right now.The Red Sox made a couple of big signingsHanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandovalthis past offseason to add some offense. Unfortunately for the team, it's finding out that it is tough to win without good pitching.Boston is in dire need of a front-of-the rotation pitcher. It has been linked to some high-profile pitchers, such as Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Cole Hamels, but Boston has not been willing to part ways with some of its top prospects. Leake may not be a No. 1 pitcher, but he is a very good pitcher. Also, he would not demand the type of package that an ace pitcher like Hamels would.In terms of a return package, there may be no better trade partner in baseball than the Red Sox. They have an abundance of talent in terms of position players. CatcherBlake Swihart would be an attractive piece to the Reds, but he may be untouchable. Shortstop Deven Marrero, outfielderManuel Margot and infielderSean Coyle could be among the players Cincinnati would be interested in.Leake won't command the type of contract that Cueto will in free agency. However, the Reds have some young arms on the cusp of being ready for the big-league rotation. Knowing that, it would be best for the club to trade Leake at the deadline and get some pieces for the future.*All stats are via MLB.com
Click here to read full news..
