TJ Friedl came through in a big way for the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, saving the game — and making up for Elly De La Cruz’s costly throwing error — with a spectacular catch at the wall to rob Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers of a game-tying home run in the ninth. Thanks to Friedl’s defensive heroics, the Reds held on for a 4-2 win.
Though the season still has time to unfold, fans are beginning to question whether the Reds can stay in the playoff race.
With a 30-32 record, they sit four games out of a Wild Card spot and trail the division-leading Cubs by nine. If their fortunes don’t improve soon, Cincinnati may consider selling at the upcoming trade deadline.
Despite that possibility, Friedl is showing just how important he is to the team — both on the field and in the clubhouse — and why trading him would be a mistake.
Before even thinking of moving Friedl, the Reds would need to consider who could replace him in center field or as the leadoff hitter. Currently, the team has no clear internal options, and prospects like Héctor Rodríguez are still at least a year away from being MLB-ready.
Sure, Friedl could bring back a solid return in a trade — he’s fast, gets on base, plays strong defense in a key position, and is under team control through 2028.
But those same traits are exactly why the Reds should hold on to him. He isn’t eligible for arbitration until next season and likely won’t cost more than $3 million.
With Jonathan India now in Kansas City, Friedl has emerged as a clubhouse leader, a role the Reds can’t afford to lose given their already limited veteran presence.
While it’s natural for fans to wonder what Friedl might fetch on the trade market, his leadership, reliability, and all-around value make him far more valuable on the roster than as a trade chip — especially with no clear replacement in sight and a limited window to compete while De La Cruz is under team control.
