While the Reds only moved back to the .500 mark after yesterday’s 2-1 victory over the Astros, Cincinnati’s 35-35 record puts them only a half-game behind the Brewers for first place in the NL Central. Considering how the Reds were 21-29 just on May 25, the team’s surge over the last few weeks has included both a five-game winning streak and the Reds’ ongoing six-game winning streak.
Such highly-touted prospects as Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain have sparked the lineup, and Andrew Abbott has started his MLB career with 17 2/3 scoreless innings (setting a modern record in the process). Since the youngsters are contributing already and the NL Central seems to be wide open, the Reds could be in the unexpected position of finding themselves looking to add at the trade deadline.
To this end, general manager Nick Krall told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal) that the front office is prepared to act if Cincinnati remains in contention.
“If we’ve got a chance to make the playoffs, we try to make the playoffs any way we can. It’s not about getting top farm systems. That’s great, but at the same time, you’re trying to make moves to sustain winning on your big league club and figure out what that is,” Krall said. As to whether or not ownership will increase payroll to accommodate a deadline move, “there’s nothing I see that is going to impede us from making an acquisition,” Krall said.
As per Roster Resource, the Reds’ payroll sits just shy of $83MM, with Joey Votto accounting for $25MM of that figure. The team topped the $130MM mark (putting the Reds about in the middle of the league in payroll size) during the 2019-21 seasons, as Cincinnati’s previous rebuilding process saw the team augment its young talent with such notable free agents as Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas. The result was a wild card postseason appearance in 2020, but the pandemic seemed to curb ownership’s desire for any more spending, leading the front office to start cutting payroll and rebuilding anew, resulting in a dismal 62-100 season in 2022.
It’s probably safe to assume that the Reds aren’t going on a spending spree at the deadline, both because of the past history of modest payrolls, and because the club has so much young talent that it doesn’t want to block any positions with veterans. However, as Rosenthal noted, Cincinnati’s prospect depth is naturally also a big advantage in swinging trades. Obviously the likes of De La Cruz or McLain aren’t going anywhere, but the Reds could conceivably dangle some minor leaguers who are further away from their MLB debuts in order to land some win-now help. Offering a higher caliber of prospect might also entice a rival team to eat all or most of the money owed on a veteran player’s remaining contact, thus allowing the Reds to sidestep a major payroll increase.
Despite Abbott’s early success, starting pitching is the most obvious need for the Reds. Hunter Greene and Ben Lively have performed decently, but Graham Ashcraft has struggled and is currently on the 15-day injured list, while Nick Lodolo (who also wasn’t pitching well) is out until August due to a stress reaction in his tibia.
Krall said that Ashcraft and Lodolo could provide some pitching help, and implied that the Reds might be looking just for rental players for further rotation adds. “Anything else you do, you’re doing it for the short term but you also want to add quality guys if possible. You’d have to find the right match to make that trade,” the GM said.
Another creative route would be for the Reds to perhaps buy and sell in equal measure, trading some veteran players just to clear roster space for all of the youngsters that are knocking on the door for more playing time. Injuries have created some openings for the prospects, as Votto has yet to play this season and Wil Myers and Jake Fraley are currently on the 10-day IL. Nick Senzel was only just activated off the 10-day IL yesterday, and if everyone is healthy at the same time, the Reds simply won’t have enough at-bats to go around.
Cincinnati’s outfield has more question marks than the infield, which is why Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been getting a tryout as a corner outfielder at Triple-A. Considered to be the next top prospect on the verge of his big league debut, Encarnacion-Strand is a corner infielder by trade, yet the Reds are well stocked for first and third base options (i.e. Spencer Steer, De La Cruz, Senzel, Votto, Myers, Kevin Newman). Encarnacion-Strand’s outfield work has thus far consisted of one game each as a left fielder and right fielder, but if he can provide at least passable glovework on the grass, it will create a quicker path to playing time. Hitting-wise, CES seems more than ready for the Show, with a whopping .345/.413/.691 slash line over 218 PA at Triple-A Louisville this season.
No one is going to take Myers, but moving Senzel or Newman makes sense. Make way for the youth movement and let Votto go out in style as he deserves.
The Reds are also carrying 3 catchers. Barring injury to one of them, they’d also probably make Luke Maile available to swap with a team looking for help behind the plate.
Chuckie Robinson is putting up some good numbers at AAA. I wonder if the Reds will give him another shot at catching for the Reds. Plus, there are one or two other catchers at lower levels showing promise. with the bat.
Maile ain’t going anywhere. They might salary dump casali as part of a package
Casali has been fantastic with pitchers and is a very solid #2 catcher. If they go down to two catchers, Maile is out.
If you believe this article my mom has some land for sale in Florida, We’ve described it as marshy and there are some previous tenants who are still there but the Game Warden says they’re Wanted. Only 2.5 million gets it done. You get an automatic return on your money buy selling alligator bags and shoes. Call 1-800-Unc-Mike.
Who on earth is trading anything for luke Maile? Back up catchers who can’t hit at all arent highly sought after. He’s probably only worth a roster spot if one of your catchers is battling an injury?
I can’t believe we’re having this discussion, The Reds in a play off spot? Way to go Manfart, you’ve watered down baseball to where I’d rather watch Corn Hole competitions
Go Reds go! Most love to root for the underdog story. Good for you Reds fans, on top of it, they should stick around for 5/6 years to boot. I hear they’re flushed with some young guys coming thru. Good stuff, and good luck.
Call the Tigers about Erod and old friend Michael Lorenzen. Lots of good infield prospects the Tigers would be interested in. It’s crazy how many good IF’ers Cincy has accumulated.
Most of those infielders could easily become outfielders, so I would be careful of whom I moved in a trade..
No. SOME infielders could easily become outfielders. But MOST do not make the transition that easily. Especially at the big league level. They tried Spencer Steer in left last night and if felt like watching a high school kid play there. He didn’t do anything costly, but you could tell he had never played the outfield before. People act like position changes are just no big deal because a few guys have done it somewhat successfully. It is a BIG risk for a team.
And it is really not fair to the players either. If I spend my entire life learning third base and I feel I am one of the top 30 people in the sport at doing it, I would be put off by being asked to move. I would just want the chance to prove myself. If I can’t do it with your team at the position I have spent my life learning, then trade me to a team that needs me and get yourself a similar guy at another position. It seems to me that is no more of a risk than playing a person out of position. Sure you might look bad in 5 years if a player blossoms elsewhere, but sometimes that happens. There is no guarantee that player would have blossomed with the original team anyway.
Look at Nick Senzel. The Reds ruined that guy because they had too many 3b and nowhere to play him.
Senzel’s career tanked because he couldn’t stay healthy over an extended period of time. He didn’t hit when he played 3B either.
He didn’t stay healthy because he injured himself playing the outfield. By the time they moved him to third, his confidence was shot.
That is correct. He never got a shot at infield. And it did ruin him. Anyone that thinks differently didn’t watch how they handled him.
Steer actually played 3B and LF in college. Yes he probably felt a bit awkward suddenly playing there. But transitioning a player over time often is not an issue. Most players by the time they get to MLB level have switched positions numerous times on their path through the sport.
Senzel had a career high .256 batting average his rookie year. His career batting average is .242 and he’s hitting .251 currently. His OBP currently would b a carrer high. SLG, OPS, OPS+ all currently 2nd to his career highs and all above his career averages. Not sure how any of that is indicative of a guys confidence being shot, he’s literally playing above his standard.
He was the second overall pick in the draft, so…
Have you watched them?
I completely disagree. Although it might be tough to learn CF at the MLB level, LF isn’t difficult to learn and most noodle armed 2nd basemen can pick it up without too much trouble. Of course the first handful of times playing a new position is going to look rough but even a catcher can transition to LF and be considered passable after a season or 2.
@ekrog yes I have watched the Reds and wat he’d Senzel. I don’t care where he was drafted. He is now in his 5th MLB season and has hit roughly .250 all 5 seasons, seems that’s who he is in regards to MLB pitching. We’re not talking his rookie oe sophomore season, he has now been a MLB player for 5 years.
Sometimes the 2nd pick in the draft doesn’t work out. High probability that guy becomes a MLB regular but certainly not always the case.
Tigers need a bat that can field, at any position but 1B. Hate to see than move pitching, because you never have enough, but that’s what will get the bat they need.
Central is ready to be taken. Half the competition may be sellers. Maybe all of it.
Pirates and Reds absolutely should not be selling. Both are on the rise this season and for years to come. If either can get an arm or two for rotation depth they should be ok.
I guess I don’t quite see your point about the Pirates and would argue that as currently constructed, the Reds have more upside than the Pirates especially where their young players are concerned
Where pitching is concerned, they have Keller and a great many question marks
Not sure one or two arms is going to change much, especially when you have a punch-less lineup, to boot
Yes, the central is anyone’s to win, even the Cardinals. But why would you trade prospects for a run that will go nowhere and in the middle of a plan that entailed beefing up their minor league system?
This road trip and the A’s series should serve to remind fans that this is not a contending team at present.
Given the injuries to VV and Burrows, the inconsistency of Oviedo and Ortiz and loss of command from Contreras, I’m sure they’ll try to address getting a starter, as there is no one in the minors who is ready. But jeez, here’s hoping the prospects they trade come from areas of great depth or really aren’t on their radar as mlb-ready anytime soon
To Wholcamel:You make a lot of sense.!
A lot of baseball till deadline. Pirates Reds shouldn’t sell if they are in it but the other 3 teams have some real trade chips if they aren’t in it.
“If they are in it?”
First off, I have to wonder if you’re watching these games. Seriously. If this kind of play continues to the deadline and they are still “in it,” which in this division may mean only being 6 or 8 games back, how in the world would you justify trading prospects for literally anyone ?
Besides the rose-colored glasses type of fan who talks about how close they are to first place while being excited about the pierogi races at PNC, is there anyone who thinks this team is going anywhere?
Sell. Period
Hill. Santana. Choi. Joe. Mathias Castro. The guy in the red pierogi hat.
Continue with the plan.
Teach. Develop.
I’m beginning to wonder if 72 wins was an optimistic prediction
@cornwhisperer You shouldn’t make a trade unless you win it, tie or almost win it. Pirates have plenty of prospects that their prospects of amounting to anything in Pittsburgh aren’t good.
They aren’t good but neither is the rest of the division. If you are still in it take a shot. The pr and revenue from trying to contend is much more valuable than the weak prospect returns those guys you mentioned would return. Now if you want to trade Keller Bednar that’s a different story. Only 2 and 3 seasons left. They need extended or traded at some point.
This was a awful week. Will be sellers if this performance continues.
I get all that. Certainly, and agree that given this level of play, they’ll be sellers
I’m a little taken aback about the PR and revenue note, however. Granted, there are true believers in the fan base as previously noted. But generally speaking, most fans are knowledgeable in this town and understand that you can dress a pig a thousand ways but in the end, it is what it is
The team that traded for Archer was more talented than this one and while it also wasn’t going anywhere in terms of making a dent in the playoffs, served to harken back to some semblance of the “glory days” of Cutch, Walker, AJ, Martin and the gang. In other words, the memories were still pretty fresh
Most fans look at this current incarnation and are reminded of consecutive 100 loss seasons. It’s hard to fathom the idea that bringing in one or two players is going to change anything. And when the PG’s Pirates beat reporter does an article that bemoans an unenthusiastic, lifeless team…with 90 games to go….well, you know he’s only reflective of what most fans see
I liked the spark Cutch, Santana and Hill originally brought this group over the first quarter of the season. Clearly, that wisdom is now falling on deaf ears in the clubhouse. The worst thing I could say about the Pirates of the past two seasons is that they played like they were going through the motions, expecting to lose and fine with outcomes
Here we are again
Reds play in a bandbox though. They need more than rotation depth. They need some veteran leadership that can at least hold down the #3 spot. It’s all gonna come down to who actually sells this year. Jordan Montgomery would be the type of pitcher I could see them chasing. The White Sox should make a couple decent starters available too.
The 2023 Reds may need a reality check. Didn’t they recently call themselves the Team of America or something to that effect? Although they’ve improved in some areas since last year, they’re an average team in 2023 in a struggling NL Central division.
According to division statistics that I’ve seen, the Reds are trailing in defense behind the Brewers and Cubs, trailing in offense behind the Cubs, Cardinals, and Pirates, and trailing in pitching behind the Cubs and Cardinals. (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
I also read several days ago that the Reds had played the fewest number of winning teams in MLB compared to other teams. I don’t know if that’s still the case today.
I’m somewhat confused about the Cincinnati Reds in general and it’s not my intent to stir up controversy. I’m mainly curious why the Reds in some media appearances have behaved as if they’re potential World Series contenders (when there’s a significant number of games left in the season).
Have you watched them?
Yes I have. They’ve had stretches of marked inconsistency. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see what develops as they play a larger number of winning teams over the course of a long season. Their statistics in some areas of play appear to be average or below average. Time will tell, of course.
I wouldn’t totally count the Cardinals out. They always seem to work their devil magic late in the season. And the way this division is lined up right now, it is anyone’s like you said.
I also wouldn’t count out St. Louis. Their roster of position players in particular is just too talented. If they can reset and re-balance, they could make significant progress in the remaining months of the regular season.
Not to mention the Cubs have a nice winning streak going and have played well in their series against Baltimore.
Good starting pitching is the most valued commodity in the majors, and the Reds traded or released a plenty over the last few years. Good luck replenishing that.
Right ! They’d already be top of central if they would have not gave away j grey and then resigned anthony disco. Leadership is terrible
Could you umagine if they just kept Castillo. Pay him 20 million a year and payroll is still 105 to 110 and they are probably in first place already. They had 130 million payroll at one time.
If they kept Castillo, they wouldn’t have Williamson or Noelvi Marte. Williamson looks like a legit BL pitcher and Marte is the next big one after CES.
Maybe true on Marte.. Too early to tell. Williamson may pan out, but he doesn’t look that great thus far.
Neither helping the club as much as Castillo would.
Pissed me off when Seattle signed Castillo to such an inexpensive extension. The Reds front office barely made an effort right before the trade. Marte has promise, but Williamson hasn’t had but two decent games and hasn’t impressed much at all.
Williamson came over in the Suarez Winker trade, Marte, Arroyo were in the Castillo trade.
They already have. Starting pitching is not the Reds weakness. They need a true solid outfielder and a couple of bullpen arms.
The Rockies are a really good match with either Jurickson Profar or Randal Grichuk paired with a good pen arm like Brad Hand. The Rockies would be thrilled to take back a package led one of the young starters further down the depth chart. like Graham Ashcraft. With a front trio of Greene, Lodolo, and Abbott, Ashcraft is kind of a luxury right now. Pair him with a couple of low level lotto tickets and go for it.
Don’t look at paper, look at results. Lodolo not there most of the season and Ashcraft fighting injuries too, on the IL twice. Ashcraft and Abbott probably the guys that best know how to pitch rather than throw of the bunch, even though Graham hasn’t shown it recently. He should have been shut down before he was.
I agree they need a couple bullpen arms and an outfielder.
The Minnesota Twins left handed slugger Max Kepler could be available for the outfield.
Did you not read the article and do you not follow the reds? Starting pitching is the biggest weakness, tied with outfield. Starters have like the worst era in baseball and bullpen actually been doing solid for past few weeks with Diaz, Sims, farmer, and young. We absolutely do need a starter because Greene has been solid but prone to give up homers, and everyone else outside of Abbotts first 3 games has been mostly dismal. Weaver should not be a starter, Williamson and lively debatable on if they’re ready, but if so, they should be a #4 and #5 pitcher not #2 and #3 with lodolo out and Ashcraft struggling. Obviously people should know rookies will level out. Aquino did, India did a bit last year, Ashcraft obviously, etc.. we need starting pitching. Had we kept EITHER Castillo or gray with this team and prospects from draft and the mahle trade, we would be insane. Smh. These blowout performances that are exciting now doesn’t mean the FO was “right” or smart. Even they/nobody could predict this level of instant success by this many people. The FO still made many terrible decisions the last few years especially
Yes I read the article and I follow the Reds. The writer of this article feels that starting pitching is their biggest need. His opinion, but it doesn’t make it dogma. I have a different opinion of their biggest needs. They are set at the top with Greene and Abbott. Luke Weaver and Ben Lively can eat innings at the back end of the rotation. Brandon Williamson seems like he can hold down a spot until Lodolo gets back.
But when a waiver claim like Ian Gibaut is one of your top three relievers, that is a much bigger need. And when Stuart Fairchild is one of your starting outfielders, you need help.
@Hiflew, it’s not the authors opinion, statistically it is a fact. The Reds pitching as a whole is ranked 27th in era. That number is bolstered by their bullpen with top 5 guys having era’s of 3.06 or lower. They have statistically one of the worst rotations in MLB.
Nothing about any of this is a FACT. This is all different people’s opinion. There is no one correct answer. It is your opinion of what is needed on a team. Good day.
@Hiflew, 27th ranked team ERA is a fact. Their top 5 relief pitchers having ERAs of 3.06 or less, again fact. MLB tracks these things.
Yes, but it is not a current fact. That includes Cessa, Ashcraft, and Lodolo in the ERA and none of them are in the current rotation. The bullpen has good numbers, but none of them are really that good aside from Diaz and maybe Sims. The other 3 have FIPs between 3.99 and 4.85, which is much worse than their current ERA. They are likely going to regress in the second half of the year.
The point of mentioning the bullpens ERA was that it helped bolster overall team ERA for the Reds, getting them to 27 overall. Ashcraft just recently hit DL, Lively, Weaver, and Williamson have all been bad. Greene has been ok. Abbot has pitched very well in his 3 starts. Still in no way is that rotation a strength of the team.
Regardless if you think the bullpen is going to regress, to date the lineup and bullpen have carried their team.
You have your opinion and I have mine. Have a good night.
27th ranked pitching is not an opinion it is a fact.
@HiFlew the Reds Bullpen has a closer with a sub 2.00 era the next 4 most used bullpen arms 2 have a sub 3.00 era and the 4th has a 3.06. As for their starters, they have had 40 games started by a pitcher with an era above 6.00. Without a doubt their biggest weakness has been starting pitching this season by every metric there is.
Exactly tigers3232. It’s blatant to anyone who remotely follows the reds that starting pitching is our worst area. Great metrics you shared and that didnt even include our bad run differential that is now at like -21 only because of the current 7 game win streak. The prior 63 games were bad. And @hiflew, once Fraley comes back I’d assume Fairchild won’t even be a starter and maybe not on the big league roster with benson having a good season when he does get playing time. Def won’t be when we make more call ups.
Bring Chapman home!!! KC is selling.
“It’s not about getting top farm systems.”
Interesting take considering the 3 prospects recently brought up are the guys who’ve lit up that team.
A top farm system isn’t the end goal, it’s the means to a bigger goal.
End goal or not, it’s absolutely why they’re even in a possible playoff conversation at the moment. It sure doesn’t have much to do with their “spending” on FAs.
Which is exactly what he says. “That’s great, but at the same time, you’re trying to make moves that sustain winning on your big league club.”
He’s trying to sound like it’s their team “philosophy”. That applies to teams that not only have great farm systems, but actually spend big on the right FAs. That sir, is NOT the Reds.
Reds have never been crazy spenders. They have upped the payroll quite a bit tho when time was right. Last few seasons they ve had no reason to spend. It is not easy for me to be objective here either, I despise the Reds owner. His comments a few years ago towards fans I found appalling and pompous. I’m happy for Reds fans tho, they appear to have a ton of exciting young talent.
He said what everyone knows, farms are only useful in how they help the big league team. That’s either promotions or trades.
Can an article be about the player doing something that’s never been done before be enough? Are we worried about relief pitcher inclusion?
I know this scoreless record is for starters, but I remember Brad Zeigler having an extremely impressive 38 scoreless innings streak as a reliever to start his career. It seems incomplete to not mention that similar streak in the article.
Which would you think is more difficult to continue?
The 38 innings since you would have to have shutout stuff over a few dozen appearances versus dominating 3 straight starts.
Love this. Doesn’t matter what your record is, being within striking distance from a playoff spot should always be taken seriously.
The opportunity picks you, you don’t pick the opportunity.
George Grande…
McLain lit it up
Dylan Cease for CES, Edwin Arroyo and Lyon Richardson
White sox are contending
The White Sox season is over. They can;t hit or catch worth a damn. The bullpen is awful. The only way they know how to score is via the homer. Runner at 3rd and less than 2 outs is guarantee of not scoring unless a homer occurs. A tear down is needed.
Cease for CES and others?
Do it.
Replace White Sox with my Twins and you see why the Sox are contending.
Isn’t Cease a FA after this season? Reds competing in 2023 is product of a lousy division, but the plan has been and still should be serious contention in 2024 and 25. Swap Cease for Giolito who has team control still and I like the deal. CES and Arroyo from the Reds is a lot of talent to lose, but gotta give to get and SP demand a kings ransom
You have it backwards, Giolito is a FA after the season. Cease has 2 more years of control
Great – thanks kckidd96
All aboard then!
Cease? Only 6 QS out of 15 and a 4.31 ERA? No thanks.
No thanks? Wow. Clearly, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
LOL it’s called buying low Dude was 2nd in the CY Young last year and is controlled until 2026. Prol a moot point as I doubt the Sox are dumb enough to trade him in a down year.
Degas… you’re out of your mind if you think CES is going anywhere, Arroyo is looked at as the best SS in the organization, and Richarson has tremendous upside. The Reds don’t even answer the phone on that one..
I agree.
Cincy should be going for a starting pitching.
Surprised St Louis hasn’t fired their manager. The average person on here could get them 30 wins by now with Arenado and Goldy in that lineup every day.
The FO has painted themselves into a corner. By all counts Marmol is the prime suspect and needs to be fired yesterday, but he’s Mo’s guy, and for Mo to fire him this early is admitting hiring him was a mistake (which it was). So the only way that situation will change is if ownership fires Mozeliak and hires someone who WILL fire Marmol. The state of the Cardinals is a prime example of what happens when you hand the keys to the kingdom to not men, but egos.
When a team is really bad it’s never the manager. He’s just the excuse.
They should have added Molina to their coaching staff
Not with that dumpster fire of a pitching staff
@Edub, STL is 6th in NL in runs scored. Offense really is not the issue. The team lacks pitching which was obvious before season even started.
Okay, so I guess no one is selling. That’s cool.
They’ll sell when reds are buying. Great way to restock your farm !
Marte petty and Phillips to Washington for gore
They aren’t trading Marte.
Why not? Where will he ever play in the bigs?
You trade from surplus and guys like him and Arroyo are superfluous.
On the other hand, you are not trading a guy like him for a rental. Has to be a build piece.
Lol, zero chance of that
They should have thought about this in the offseason, not when the season is half over.
You really are miserable. Seriously, do you ever read what you write? SMH
Do uou ever say anything of substance? Or just troll everyone rlse?
@MarkPolishuk … noooo report here of Senzel being reinstated yesterday ??? i like to get ALL my info on one site
truth
Although, I cursed Nick Krall every, single day last season, he has done an amazing job. I am happy to admit that I was wrong. This is an exciting time to be a Reds fan.
He did a good job getting good young talent on trades. I still have a problem with his team building or rather lack thereof with the obvious holes that were there from the beginning of this season that only now are being thought of to address. That being said, player development has done a great job knowing when to bring the young guys to the big leagues to have them succeed. That’s why I tell folks to be patient as far as bringing up CES.
I think the coaching staff and players deserve a lot of the credit being where they are despite all the holes. They believed in themselves from day one which is more important than you think, especially with a team that is out payrolled by virtually every team they play.
Krall has always been there and been in charge. He just set up fall guys to cover his terrible handling of the team.
He’s done an absolutely terrible job building this team. Reds draft well and they lucked out in a sellers market. To give the reds FO any credit at all for this team when more than 1/2 their payroll is for votto and moose is a pipe dream that the FO actually cares to win.
After seeing the bullpen blow another lead with Diaz not available, they better get on the phone quick before it’s too late.
Why Bell would use Gibalt in any tie game with his past track record in them is a question we will never know the answer to.
I didn’t get that either. Just let Simms go another inning and close it out if possible.
> Reds Open To Buying, Spending
> At Trade Deadline
Buying and Spending? That’s some informative information right there.
It’s a 180 from their recent game plan of pissing on the fans and then taunting them about it. Reds fans deserve a good team.
No, I get that part. I was commenting only on the wording of the headline: “Buying, Spending” in the context used are synonymous.
Also, you don’t buy players now. This isn’t free agency. There’s no bidding war with money. The headline should read something like, “Reds looking to aquire deadline players.” That’s all.
They acquired deadline players last year.
That was a sell off, not to compete. Now they can buy to compete.
What I read in to this item is that ownership has changed it’s mind and is now willing to augment 2023 payroll. That’s news. This change is solely due to the fantastic job Krall & Co. have done in assembling a young, exciting, and competitive team. This has been accomplished about 6 to 12 months earlier than anticipated just several months ago. I just hope Krall is judicious and manages the long term rebuild moreso than the present opportunity to make the postseason.
You have to give to get….
The Reds 3 biggest needs are another starter, a LH bullpen arm & a power bat….
As much as I love Stephenson, I’d use his youth & upside to make him the centerpiece of a strong package to land both Salvador Perez & Chapman from KC…
Boom you have 2 of your 3 needs locked down and it’s not just for a rental…
I’d rather have Stephenson than Salvador Perez, especially due to Perez’s contract. Aroldis Chapman would be nice to get back.
I don’t know man, Perez has 3 times the HR’s already this year and significantly outperforms Stephenson in almost every statistical category (in a pitchers home ballpark).. I agree about the salary but both Votto & Moose are off the books next year so that shouldn’t even be a consideration…
If Perez can keep up his offensive production for the next 2-3 years I think it’s definitively worth it…
Agree on Chapman but not Perez. While Perez is a clear upgrade, not overly excited about paying 20MM a year for a mid-30s catcher.. One LHP and a starter. Now if we’re talking Greinke and Chapman I’d be interested. Two rentals.
Perez isn’t waiving his no trade clause to go to Cincinnati
Just stay the course. Continue to build towards the future. No reason to start trading away developmental pieces this year.
Totally agree. Wait on Petty and Phillips and few more at lower levels. Get some mid level starters to bridge you until they are ready. Sign a few FA pitchers in the off season. Winning the NL central this season is a long way from the WS.
A veteran pitcher would help these young guys learn to be more pitch efficent and stablize the starting pitching staff. Otherwise the concern is it will be a longer journey, not a good prospect for a small market club. You don’t want to waste any of that first five years in this fouled up system they have now. Greene and Lodolo especially will be unstoppable once they learn how to be more pitch efficient. You need them going deeper into games.
Agreed, but I wouldn’t give up the farm for that pitcher. If we could get a decent FA pitcher for the short term, then that would be the way I would go. The Reds lineup is already showing signs of putting up a potent offense. Cherry pick , add or trade CES, Marte and Arroyo when we see what we have at the major league level with all of our top prospects.. The Reds have some strong pitching prospects in the minors who are at least a couple of years away. The thing I hate about trading a top position player for a top pitcher is the pitcher can blow out an arm (likely) at any time and you are stuck with nothing minus a top prospect. Of course, there is the old adage “You win with pitching” (which is true).. Pitching is such a high risk gamble. at best.
It would be nice if we had a player that could be the 3rd catcher and play the infield. Maybe even shortstop. But, there’s no such animal is there?
Yes the animal was kyle farmer
Yes the animal was Kyle Farmer
There are always relievers available to shore up the bullpen come trade deadline.
Philly showed last year that a solid bullpen pays dividends down the stretch and in the postseason.
The Reds are going to buy AND spend? Wild.
I’d say if you want to win just this year, go ahead and shop. If you want to be contending from next year and on then hold your horses and don’t go shopping yet.
You can do both if you trade from surplus, like all the middle infielders that are not in the bigs right now and they have no room for if they were.
The Minnesota Twins Kenta Maeda would be an inexpensive rental to help fill out the Reds’ rotation.,
The Twins are in 1st place, why would they trade a starter? especially with Sony Gray’s pending free agency.
Y bring up 40 year old had major shoulder surgery hitting 178 in aaa ces needs to come up
Reds will fade as always…pitching and offense can’t help them…they can’t get enough of either. 3rd place is the best they can hope for.,,,
Weed must be legal where you live…
An outstanding job done by the Reds.
Fk the big market spenders like the Mets.
Can’t even afford to go or watch anymore.
The Reds have a better record than the Padres. Have to think some heads are going to roll in San Diego.
Benson would make the perfect chip to get a strong arm, like Cease
No. Just No. He’s just starting to show who he is.
You are assuming he won’t return to the previous track record with that no. With what the kid GM gave up to get him in a panic deal, let’s hope you are right.
You’ve been nothing but negative about this trade from the get go. Stating that Lopez would have been a better option when he can barely OPS to 700. And has no speed. Benson has power. Way more speed. Even better OB skills. He will take walks. What track record did he have prior to this year besides the minors. The panic is yours.
You have been down on this trade from day 1. You preferred Lopez who can barely OPS 700 with barely average speed. Benson has tons of speed along with OB skills and power. His track record before this year is limited. It wasn’t a panic trade when they gave up 2 players who have barely played in A ball this year. 10 games and 37 AB with 505 OPS and about 5 IP for the other guy.
Why is had to repost my comment when there was no vulgarity or personal attacks is not annoying at all.
They gave up two recent second round draft picks for an outfielder who will at best end up a backup eventually with the talent around, just because their oft injured guy was injured again and there was inexplicably no backup plan.
If that is not a panic move, I don’t know what is.
The guys barely played in A ball because they were just drafted and subsequently dealt away.
That is not how you build a farm system. Cleveland knows that.
If only one of them ends up living up to their draft status, it will be a bad deal. If both do, disastrous.
They just restocked their farm system with the trades they have made the last 2 years. In addition to the players they have drafted. Yet you’re complaining about 2 lower level players 1 of which was also part of one of their previous trades.
By your estimates they shouldn’t make any more trades while advocating trading Marte.
EDLC could be moved to CF like Eric Davis was to allow Marte to go SS or 2B. So he’s not a frivolous need that they can get rid of. Everything the Reds do you pretty much close to 100 percent downgrade. It’s either all luck or circumstance. The owner(s) since there’s more than just the 2 figureheads, are bad but they finally committed to a real rebuild. Krall has done a great job besides getting rid of Moreta to the Pirates. A bullpen arm they could really use. But even Newman has contributed a lot more than expected.
Those lower level guys will be needed when the current group hits FA. If you think the Reds can sign more than a couple of these guys they have now long term fir big money in this market the way it is now, you are kidding yourself. You need to understand team building in a small market. You need them coming in waves. In Marte’s case, he is on the same wave at the same relative position, so he is surplus. But it would need to be a long term piece, not a rental.
I floated EDLC in CF too, I think he has a lot of Eric the Red in him as well. But they do these things at the minor league level, not the big leagues. See Nick Senzel for the disaster that move to the outfield was. They did that with Eric Davis and Billy Hamilton in the minors and they turned out great.
At the moment, I see them fading down the stretch just like last year for the same reason, the bullpen will blow up due to overuse. They have a lot more to play for this time around. I hope I am wrong.