In a move aimed at shoring up their outfield amidst a flurry of injuries, the Cincinnati Reds finalized a trade late Sunday night with the San Francisco Giants. The deal, officially announced Monday morning, sees outfielder Austin Slater heading to Cincinnati while left-handed reliever Alex Young moves to the Giants along with an undisclosed sum of cash.
The Reds, currently navigating through multiple injuries in their outfield, including TJ Friedl, Nick Martini, and Jake Fraley, sought additional depth by acquiring Slater from the Giants. Known for his versatility and defensive prowess across all outfield positions, Slater, 31, brings a career .257 batting average and a solid 110 OPS+ over his tenure with San Francisco from 2021 to 2023. However, his 2024 season has been marred by a concussion-related IL stint, limiting his playing time and impacting his offensive production.
Since returning from injury in early June, Slater has shown signs of regaining form, notably hitting .409 over his first seven games back. Despite a recent slump, he remains a valuable defensive asset with the ability to cover multiple outfield spots effectively.
In exchange, the Giants acquire Alex Young, who joined the Reds after a rehab assignment in Triple-A earlier this season. The left-handed pitcher impressed in limited major league appearances with Cincinnati, posting a flawless 0.00 ERA over 2.0 innings before being optioned back to the minors. His strong performance in Louisville, where he maintained a 1.19 ERA across 22.2 innings, underscores his potential as a reliable bullpen arm for the Giants moving forward.
With Slater set to become a free agent at season’s end and Young under team control through 2026, both teams aim to capitalize on their respective needs and strengths as they navigate the remainder of the 2024 MLB campaign.
