MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Reds should make

ARLINGTON, TX - JUNE 21: Zack Cozart #2 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with Billy Hamilton #6 of the Cincinnati Reds after scoring in the top of the top pf the fifth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 21, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 29: Devin Mesoraco #39 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after dropping the ball and allowing Jesus Aguilar #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers to score in the third inning of a game at Great American Ball Park on June 29, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Trade Devin Mesoraco and Scott Feldman to the Rockies

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco just can’t seem to shake the injury bug. Recently placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury (though reportedly not related to his surgically repaired shoulder), Mesoraco has played just 79 games since the end of the 2014 –when he was an All-Star and finished 21^st in the NL MVP vote.

Given his injury history, if there’s a club out there willing to take on some of the $13.125 million owed the 29-year-old catcher in 2018, the Reds would probably be glad to trade him this summer.

After missing almost all of April, Mesoraco hit .234/.333/.459 with six home runs in 129 plate appearances before his most recent DL stint. He also posted a positive defensive rating in 32 games behind the plate. Given the evidence he still has some pop at the plate and is capable of playing behind it, the Rockies might be willing to take a chance on Mesoraco.

Colorado entered the All-Star break ranked No. 28 in the majors in Wins Above Replacement by catchers (-0.3 fWAR), just a tick better than the Nationals and division rival Diamondbacks. Rockies backstops hit just three home runs in the first half of the season, and posted the second worst ISO (.081) in the majors at the position – inexcusable since the club plays half its games at Coors Field.

In addition to Mesoraco, Opening Day starter Scott Feldman would provide good rotation depth for the Rockies. Because he’s 34 and will be free agent at the end of the season, Feldman wouldn’t bring back a huge prospect haul, but if Colorado were interested in adding him to a deal for Mesoraco, the Reds would benefit.

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