Two teams that are off to great starts to the 2026 season have agreed to a trade on Monday evening. The Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds have agreed to trade first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the Orioles for cash considerations. Encarnacion-Strand was designated by assignment by the Reds last week, after failing to capitalize on a solid start to his career.

In 2023, it seemed like the California native would become a star for the Reds after he batted .270 with 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, and an OPS of .805 in his rookie season. He appeared in just 63 games and gained a 0.5 WAR for that season. Encarnacion-Strand could not figure things out the last two seasons, and the Reds decided to move on after he went unclaimed on waivers.

Baltimore could be a good spot for him, although, with Pete Alonso there for the foreseeable future, Encarnacion-Strand must improve his play at third base and right field to earn more playing time. He has played those positions during his time with the Reds.

Alonso is in the midst of a rough start to his Orioles career as he adjusts to a different league and division of pitchers. Here is what the slugger said about it recently.

“I mean, for me, it’s frustrating. I’m sure it is for everybody else,” Alonso said, via Orioles on MASN. “I wish I could have been better, not just tonight, but many nights before. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes, so at game time, I can show up and perform. I could say yeah, it’s a long season. It’s coming, but I mean, it stinks for the first couple weeks, not performing up to my standards…I expect more out of myself, and I know other people do as well, so it’s frustrating, but yeah, the best is obviously going to come. ”

Two teams that are off to great starts to the 2026 season have agreed to a trade on Monday evening. The Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds have agreed to trade first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the Orioles for cash considerations. Encarnacion-Strand was designated by assignment by the Reds last week, after failing to capitalize on a solid start to his career.