Reds could target hard-hitting NL stolen base leader in need of a 'change of scenery'

The Cincinnati Reds' roster is not exactly flooded with star power. 

Shortstop Elly De La Cruz is the clear frontrunner on the roster to someday win an MVP award, and without ace Hunter Greene, there are significant questions about the durability of the rotation. 

However, the Red should be in the hunt for a postseason berth come August, when trade rumors begin to heat up. Manager Terry Francona has high expectations for his club, meaning Cincinnati should be a buyer unless they drop dramatically in the standings. 

Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote on Wednesday that the NL Central club could make an in-division trade, naming them one of three potential landings spots for an uber-talented slugger who has yet to put all the pieces of the puzzle together in the outfield. 

Reds-Pirates trade idea sends 30-30 candidate to Cincinnati 

"The Pirates listened to offers for Oneil Cruz last summer, when he was on his way to a second straight 20-20 season," Rymer wrote. "And now, he looks like a change-of-scenery candidate." 

Cruz finished last season in a tie with Juan Soto of the New York Mets with the NL lead of 38 stolen bases. The former shortstop is now in center field, and things aren't going well. At all. 

"Given his defensive issues and his only slightly above-average 102 OPS+, Cruz isn't exactly a star asset," Rymer added. "He nonetheless has star upside and then some, as his power, speed, and arm strength are about as good as they come." 

Perhaps under Francona's leadership, Cruz could surge into stardom with the Reds. Great American Ballpark is an extremely hitter-friendly stadium, and that could lead to the left-handed hitter belting 30 home runs for the first time in his career. 

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Giancarclo Stanton has an absurd 2-for-4 streak going on for Yankees
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• How Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto is connected to Rockies' Tomoyuki Sugano
• Marlins suggested to sign Max Kepler after Phillies’ OF was suspended for 80 games
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade
• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece