CINCINNATI – It's been a relatively quiet offseason for the Reds, but that has a chance to change, real quick, over the next week.
First, members of the club and its fans will renew acquaintances at Redsfest on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the baseball operations department – led by president Nick Krall, general manager Brad Meador and manager David Bell – will be making its way to Nashville for the 2023 Winter Meetings.
Cincinnati is not usually a big participant in splashy Winter Meetings trades or free-agent signings, but the club has pulled off transactions at the confab from time to time. Even when no moves were made, groundwork was often laid to make a deal shortly thereafter.
With a competitive roster, a desire to reach the playoffs, areas that need upgrading and money to spend, the conditions are at least favorable for the Reds to get something done at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center next week.
Let's review where Krall could make moves:
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1. Rotation
There is no shortage of young starter talent but Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips all have one thing in common: inexperience. None of them has more than two years in the Major Leagues. Throw in that the group endured several injuries and owned the 28th-ranked ERA in MLB last season, and that makes adding a veteran arm seem even more prudent.
"We’ve got a decent amount of guys. The one issue we have is a handful of those players were injured at some point during this year," Krall said during the General Managers Meetings. "We need some more quality innings to come in and be able to add to the staff – whether it’s starting or relieving.”
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One familiar free agent came off the board on Monday, when Sonny Gray and the rival Cardinals signed a three-year, $75 million contract. According to a source, the Reds were in pursuit to reunite with Gray, who spent 2019-21 with the club, and were close before St. Louis got the deal done.
There likely aren't any other free agents in Gray's tier that hold interest for Cincinnati. A trade could be another route, however. The Reds are among the clubs said to have interest in Rays ace Tyler Glasnow. The right-hander is owed $25 million in 2024, the final year of his deal. Tampa Bay, however, is not rebuilding and would want an MLB-ready starting pitcher as part of the return. Cincinnati has several of them (see above), but would Krall part with one?
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2. To move or not move Jonathan India?
The Reds' second baseman has continued to be a topic of rumors this offseason even though Krall downplayed that during the GM Meetings. Moving India would reduce the glut of infielders and enable Matt McLain to take over at second base and partner with Elly De La Cruz at shortstop.
However, India has a lot of value for Cincinnati because of his intangibles, leadership and style of play. It's also hard to tell if other clubs would value him as highly or if the return would be worth moving him. Even though India is arbitration eligible, he's not going to be a drag on the payroll, which makes keeping him an attractive option.
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3. Outfield
The Reds have a decent outfield already with TJ Friedl, Spencer Steer, Will Benson and Jake Fraley. It's a little heavy on left-handed hitters, and Friedl is the only lefty that has shown the ability to hit well consistently against lefty pitching. Steer is right-handed and can play in the infield as well, and Stuart Fairchild is a bench option and also right-handed. But a righty hitter with power would be a good fit, and free agent Jorge Soler best fits the profile.
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4. Bullpen
Reds relievers, who finished second in the National League and sixth in MLB in innings, were heavily worked in 2023, as the rotation often struggled to reach the latter portions of games.
Although Alexis Díaz will be back at closer with Lucas Sims setting up alongside lefties Sam Moll and Alex Young, the group could use more proven depth and multi-inning arms.
The Winter Meetings will run from Dec. 3-6. Be sure to read MLB.com for all the latest updates from Nashville.
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THIS DATE IN REDS HISTORY |
Nov. 29, 1971: In a blockbuster trade that would carry huge ramifications for the Big Red Machine era, Cincinnati dealt Lee May, Tommy Helms and Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for Joe Morgan, Denis Menke, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo and Ed Armbrister. It was made during the Winter Meetings in Phoenix.
Morgan helped lead the Reds to World Series titles in 1975-76 and was the National League's Most Valuable Player in both seasons.
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