SIMULATION: Astros trading Josh Reddick proves to be difficult

The Astros may look to trade Josh Reddick, but doing so may be difficult.

Each of the 30 FanSided MLB team sites are currently participating in a mock Winter Meetings simulation. Each team has a representative and is responsible for making trades, signing free agents and negotiating contract extensions. I, on behalf of Climbing Tal’s Hill, represented the Astros.

I’m going to provide recaps of the moves I make and discuss how they might compare to what happens in reality. Again, this is just a simulation, and the trade discussed below has not actually taken place, so please refrain from cries of “fake news.”

For me, the first order of business for the Astros was to trade Josh Reddick. The need to do so has already been discussed by my co-editor Brian Murray. Fans are divided on the issue, and that’s understandable. I like Reddick too, and he’s been a great asset to this team for the past three seasons.

But the bottom line is this: Reddick makes $13 million next season and he’s not needed. The Astros have five quality outfielders in George Springer, Michael Brantley, Kyle Tucker, Jake Marisnick and Myles Straw. Whatever your opinion of Tucker may be, the team clearly views him as a franchise cornerstone, and it’s time he proves it. He can’t do that from the bench.

The team has precious little payroll space to work with, which we’ll go into in greater detail in a subsequent post. They simply can’t afford to pay $13 million for a player they don’t need, so as painful as it might be for some, Reddick needs to go.