Will Johnny Cueto's elbow issue affect his trade value?

The assurances from the Reds and Johnny Cueto that his elbow is fine are, well, reassuring. A couple of extra days for a starter aren't a big deal.

But if the Reds are trying to trade Cueto, the elbow is a huge issue.

The team that gets Cueto is only getting him for the rest of the season. The club doesn't even get a draft pick if Cueto leaves via free agency. That new rule under the Collective Bargaining Agreement lessened the value of free agents traded at the deadline.

My guess is the Reds were looking at getting prospects somewhere in the top 40 to 50 range for Cueto before the elbow issue came up.

What could they get now? Maybe just as much if the other clubs buy the reassurances about Cueto's elbow - and he pitches well in a couple of starts.

But the numbers hint the elbow — the Reds termed it soreness — was affecting Cueto.

He started the year like he left off last year when he was Cy Young runner-up in the National League. Cueto went 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA in April. He threw 37 innings over five starts. He allowed only 22 hits and five walks - and struck out 38.

Dominant, in other words.

But his May was so-so: 1-2 with a 4.45 ERA. He threw 28 1/3 innings in the month and gave up 29 hits, walked 14 and struck out 22.

Not dominant, in other words.

That's when the Reds skipped Cueto to give him extra rest. He went from May 19 to June 2 without starting. When he returned, he was lights out over his first two starts. He allowed one run on nine hits over 13 innings. He struck out 13 and walked only two.

But in his last two starts, he's given up seven runs in 12 innings. In each of those starts, he's given up a late home run to surrender the lead.

And the Reds have again decided to give him extra rest.

We're talking same sample size here. It would be less of a concern if Cueto wasn't a trade candidate. I think Cueto will be fine. I think he'll return to his ace-like ways and dominate.

But I'm not so sure other teams will give up much for two months of his services.

The alternative to trading Cueto is to keep him, making a qualifying offer (which will be $15 million or so). If he leaves via free agency, you get a draft pick in compensation.

If the offers for Cueto are underwhelming, the Reds could go that route.