Jim Bowden: Indians should trade for Reds pitchers Raisel Iglesias, Amir Garrett

Dave Clark | Cincinnati Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Billy Hamilton talks about his highlight catch, 3 hits in win Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton discusses his highlight catch in the first inning of Sunday's win over the Pirates and why his 3-hit, 3-run offensive day gave him confidence.

Former Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowden writes that six trades American League contenders should make before the deadline include the Cleveland Indians bolstering their bullpen by acquiring relief pitchers Raisel Iglesias and Amir Garrett from the Reds for outfielder Francisco Mejia and pitcher Shane Bieber.

Bowden explained in an article for The Athletic:

The Indians’ window to win is right now and they’ll have to pay a huge price for that opportunity. Trading top hitting prospect Mejia, who would play left field for the Reds immediately, and right-handed pitcher Bieber, who would immediately go into the Reds’ rotation, would be painful for Cleveland. However, both Iglesias and Garrett are shutdown relievers and putting them in front of Allen and Miller would put the Indians in prime position.

There's a lot to dissect there, including Bowden's assertions that the 22-year-old Mejia, who plays for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers and has 14 big-league plate appearances, would start immediately in left field for the Reds over Adam Duvall, and that the 23-year-old Bieber, who earned his first big-league win earlier this week, "would immediately go into the Reds' rotation."

With a 22-50 record through 72 games, the Kansas City Royals already have started selling, and continued to do so late Monday by dealing former All-Star closer Kelvin Herrera to the Washington Nationals.

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