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Cincinnati Reds trade for OF Austin Slater, sending LHP Alex Young to San Francisco Giants

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4 months ago

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Cincinnati Reds trade for OF Austin Slater, sending LHP Alex Young to San Francisco Giants

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With three outfielders down with injuries, the Cincinnati Reds finally went outside the organization for help, acquiring veteran outfielder Austin Slater late Sunday night from the San Francisco Giants for left-handed reliever Alex Young.

Slater, 31, has been a productive right-handed hitter in a part-time role in recent seasons before struggling this year (.200 with one home run and a .574 on-base-plus-slugging percentage).

Over the previous four seasons he hit .259 with 29 home runs and a .773 OPS in 374 games, playing all three outfield spots.

Slater, who has roughly $1.75 million left on his contract, is a free agent after this season.

Slater suffered a concussion crashing into the wall May 10 trying to make a catch against the Reds and missed much of the next month. He’s 13-for-51 (.255) with his home run and eight walks in 18 games since his return.

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The deal, which includes cash considerations from the Giants, comes one day after the Reds put platoon lefty-hitting outfielder Nick Martini on the injured list because of a sprained thumb suffered Saturday. Manager David Bell said Martini’s stay on the IL might not be a quick one.

The Reds already were down starting center fielder TJ Friedl, who’s expected back in the next week or two from a hamstring injury. And outfielder Stuart Fairchild might land on the IL by the time Slater arrives, depending on the status of a back issue that arose late Saturday.

Young, who played a major role in the Reds’ over-achieving bullpen’s success last year (4-2, 3.86 ERA in 53 2/3 innings), opened the season on the IL because of a lower back injury, and pitched just two (scoreless) innings upon his return before being optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

He’s 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in 23 appearances for Louisville during those five weeks.

The trade means a return to San Francisco for Young, who pitched the final two months of the 2022 season there after the Giants acquired him from the Guardians.

Young, 30, makes $1.16 million this year and is arbitration eligible for two more seasons.

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