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Five Relievers the Reds Should Target at the Deadline

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The Cincinnati Reds are starting off the second half of the season well, taking the first two games against the New York Mets. They are currently 52-47, and are looking for their first postseason appearance since 2020. To do so, they would need to look for help in the bullpen. Here are five relievers the Reds could target at this year’s trade deadline.

Five Relievers for the Reds to Target at the Trade Deadline

Phil Maton – Dream Acquisition

Maton has a long track record of being a solid reliever and is currently working on a 2.55 ERA across 35 1/3 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals this year. He could certainly be a late reliever for the Reds, as he has finished eight out of his 37 outings.

Jun 20, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Phil Maton (88) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

Maton is a typical one-inning reliever and has been absolutely dominant this season.

2.65 xERA – (94th percentile)

.192 xBA – (96th percentile)

85.1 MPH Avg Exit Velo – (99th percentile)

28.8 Chase% – (56th percentile)

34.8 Whiff% – (95th percentile)

30.4 K% – (90th percentile)

9.5 BB% – (30th percentile)

3.6 barrel% – (96th percentile)

31.0 Hard-Hit – (96th percentile)

48.8 GB% – (78th percentile)

Maton will be a free agent following the 2025 season as he is on an extremely cheap one-year, $2 million contract. He will also be a pure rental, and someone teams would love to add to their bullpen.

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Shelby Miller – Dream Acquisition

The former All-Star starter makes the list, and he is perhaps the most coveted trade piece in the league. The Arizona Diamondbacks have been scuffling all season, and it looks like if they don’t sell, they will likely at least retool.

Miller is working on a 1.98 ERA in 36 1/3 innings pitched. His greatest tool is perhaps his ability to keep runners off the base paths. For the past three years, Miller has a 0.90, 0.97, and 0.96 WHIP, respectively.

His 1.98 ERA shines, but his metrics are even better.

3.21 xERA – (76th percentile)

.232 xBA – (68th percentile)

88.2 MPH Avg Exit Velo – (75th percentile)

35.8 Chase% – (97th percentile)

30.9 Whiff% – (86th percentile)

28.0 K% – (85th percentile)

7.7 BB% – (57th percentile)

6.7 Barrel% – (72nd percentile)

38.2 Hard-Hit% – (70th percentile)

37.1 GB%  – (23rd percentile)

Once again, Miller is one of the most coveted trade chips on the market this year. He is a true rental, as he will be a free agent after the 2025 season. He is on a one-year, $1 million contract with the Cardinals. His performance and affordability make him a dream reliever acquisition at the deadline for the Reds.

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Jake Bird – Realistic Acquisition

Jake Bird is more than likely to get dealt at the deadline this year, seeing as he’s having a decent season for the historically bad Colorado Rockies.

Both his career numbers and his 2025 numbers don’t jump off the page, but he can be a valuable middle relief guy who can occasionally slot into some late-game situations.

His leash is relatively long for a reliever, as he has 12 appearances this year where he’s gone more than the typical one inning. With a postseason run approaching, his middle relief/bulk inning abilities can be helpful, seeing as fatigue starts to set in for pitchers around these upcoming months.

Despite his 4.09 ERA this year, there are signs that he can be much better. For one, he plays half of his games in Coors Field, the most hitter-friendly confines in baseball. His metrics for the year are also fantastic. His 3.51 xERA and .235 xBA are proof that he has fallen victim to the Coors effect like hundreds of other former or current Rockies pitchers.

Bird also limits soft contact and generates whiffs exceptionally well.

88.1 MPH Avg Exit Velo – (78th percentile)

5.8 Barrel% – (82nd percentile)

40.9 Hard-Hit% – (50th percentile)

29.7 Chase% – (68th percentile)

28.8 Whiff% – (73rd percentile)

27.1 K% – (80th percentile)

While these numbers are all great, the metric the Reds should be most excited about is his 48.2 GB% (76th percentile). With Great American Ball Park being a hitter-friendly venue with short fences, keeping the ball on the ground is imperative to success, something Bird does extremely well.

Non-elite reliever value is usually low, seeing as they are the most volatile position group, meaning he likely wouldn’t cost the Reds much. Because of this, though, many teams will be inquiring about Bird’s availability, and Cincinnati would have to outbid a few other clubs for his services.

Bird is under team control for three more seasons after 2025.

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Steven Matz – Realistic Acquisition

Matz is working on his 10th year in the major leagues, and has taken on a Nick Martinez-esque role for the past four years as a member of the Cardinals.

2022: 15 G – 10 GS — 5.25 ERA

2023: 25 G – 17 GS — 3.86 ERA

2024: 12 G – 7 GS — 5.08 ERA

2025: 25 G – 2 GS — 3.35 ERA

Matz has an up-and-down tendency, where he flips between a good season and a bad one year by year. In 2025, his 3.35 ERA in 51 innings pitched is extremely valuable to any team looking for a postseason push.

He can go multiple innings like Jake Bird, but even better, seeing as he’s a former starter. Matz’s flexibility will be a huge bonus if the Reds land the 34-year-old southpaw.

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Matz will reach unrestricted free agency at the end of 2025, as he is on the last year of his four-year, $44 million contract. He will be a pure rental at an affordable price, and the Reds would likely have to outbid other teams for Matz’s services as well.

Kyle Finnegan – Risky Acquisition

Finnegan is having an average year, with a 4.37 ERA in 35 innings at the nation’s capital. His numbers and metrics on the season aren’t necessarily great, but they aren’t bad either.

3.63 xERA – (61st percentile)

.245 xBA – (53rd percentile)

89.9 MPH Avg Exit Velo – (37th percentile)

25.0 Chase% – (17th percentile)

21.4 Whiff% – (21st percentile)

18.4 K% – (23rd percentile)

8.8 BB% – (40th percentile)

8.5 barrel% – (47th percentile)

38.6 Hard-Hit% – (68th percentile)

46.2 GB% – (69th percentile)

On one hand, Finnegan was far more successful in 2023 and 2024 (3.76 ERA and 3.68 ERA) while having similar metrics, meaning he could bounce back. On the other hand, this season may be proof that Finnegan could not continue to outperform his peripherals, and that he is more of a 4.00 ERA guy than a mid-3.00 ERA guy.

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Either way, the Reds acquiring the veteran reliever at the deadline could go one of two ways. One, he can revert to his 2023 and 2024 versions and be a valuable reliever. Two, he can continue to be a decent middle relief guy with an ERA hovering north of 4.00, which certainly isn’t too bad either.

Finnegan will be a free agent after the 2025 season as he is on a one-year, $6 million contract with the Nationals.

 

Main Photo Credit: © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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