The Reds had a fairly quiet deadline, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported this week that they pursued at least one outside-the-box upgrade to their lineup: Kris Bryant. Cincinnati viewed Bryant as a possible option in center field, but would only have been able to acquire him in the event that the Cubs paid the remaining $6.8MM on his contract between the deadline and the end of the season. The Reds also at least looked into Nationals shortstop Trea Turner, Rosenthal adds, though those talks never became particularly serious.
It stands to reason that if the Reds would’ve needed the Cubs to cover the remainder of Bryant’s contract, the same would’ve held true with the Nationals in a deal for Turner, who is earning $13MM in 2021 and was owed $4.5MM from July 31 through season’s end. He’ll also be in line for a considerable raise via arbitration this winter, and Turner would have naturally come with a higher cost of acquisition, from a prospect standpoint, due that extra year of control.
In the end, the Reds’ deadline brought them a trio relievers in Mychal Givens, Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson, all of whom were acquired at minimal prospect cost. They’ll deepen a Reds relief corps that ranks 28th in the Majors with a 5.34 ERA and currently has two of its best relievers, Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims, on the injured list.
More out of Cincinnati…
- The Reds could get slugger Nick Castellanos back in the lineup as soon as today, writes Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The 29-year-old Castellanos sustained a microfracture in his wrist when he was hit by a pitch three weeks ago. Initial X-rays didn’t catch the fracture, which led to Castellanos making some pinch-hit appearances while playing through considerable discomfort, but a CT scan eventually revealed the damage. Castellanos said back on July 21 that was unable to swing a bat, but Nightengale notes that Castellanos has taken batting practice three times this week. Manager David Bell said the club’s primary concern is getting Castellanos “back to full strength” so he doesn’t develop any poor mechanics as compensation for a lack of strength in the wrist. Castellanos, who can opt out of the final two years of his contract this offseason, has mashed at a .329/.383/.582 pace and clubbed 18 home runs through 368 plate appearances in 2021.
- Injured righty Lucas Sims is progressing through a rehab assignment and made his fourth appearance with Triple-A Louisville last night. Bell told reporters recently that the plan was to build Sims up to pitch in back-to-back games (link via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com), which he’s yet to do. Still, the fact that he’s progressed through four rehab outings, seemingly without issue, suggests a return sooner than later for the righty, who’d been on a lights-out hot streak before getting clobbered for three runs without recording an out on June 22. Sims was placed on the injured list with an elbow sprain the next day. Sims has had three particularly tough outings in 2021, including that final appearance before going on the injured list, but has generally been solid otherwise. His 5.02 ERA is skewed by that handful of rough outings, but Sims carries vastly more encouraging marks in FIP (3.44), SIERA (3.20) and strikeout percentage (34.9). A healthy Sims would be a major boost to the Reds’ bullpen as they push to close a four-game gap in the Wild Card standings.
Technically correct
Shocking. The Reds trying to get another 3b for not 3b.
StPeteStingRays
The word on the streets is Chris Sabo is making a comeback. He was inspired by Khrush’s return…
mbauza25
Dum ass
mbauza25
He was going to play CF
Samuel
So the news is that the Reds were interested in guys and looked into them, but they couldn’t afford to either pay them or trade someone for them.
In other “news” – I’m interested in Bill Gates’ mansion next to the Pacific ocean. My unemployed neighbor is interested in owning Facebook.
cubs2016
No need to throw shade at your neighbor because the Reds won’t ever win again…
codymc14
As the Cubs look up to the cardinals who look up to the Reds
ksoze
Bet it won’t be 100 years like some teams
When it was a game.
I read that the same way. We are interested in your players only if you continue to pay them.
tonyinsingapore
And I took a long peek through the McLaren dealership window, then decided to stick with my plan of lunch at Arby’s…
When it was a game.
Only the value menu and we split the fries.
panj341
Sounds like the Reds owner has the same philosophy as the Pirates owner who never spent enough money to put them over the hump from 2013 to 2015. Sometimes you may only get one chance in 10 to 20 years to go all in.
sportsfreak52
Interested in a brain?… might as well as stupid as all that sound I
Samuel
Reds will steal the 2nd Wild Card from the Padres if Derek Johnson can get anything decent out of 2 or 3 of his bullpen guys.
notagain27
That is like saying a golf swing coach in between rounds can make you shoot a 36 on the back nine after shooting a 50 on the front nine. Mid season overhauls to mechanics rarely if ever happen mid season.
Samuel
How many weeks have you been following MLB?
Samuel
@ notagain27;
1. Where did I state that some bullpen pitchers needed a “mid season overhaul(s) to their mechanics”?
2. What the h did you think pitching coaches do during the season? Sit on the bench yuking it up until after the season when they can work on making their rosters pitchers better?
3. Your comment is being submitted for ‘Dumbest MLBTR Comment – August, 2021’.
sportsfreak52
….and that’s why this idiot notagain isn’t a pitching coach in MLB ladies and gentlemen!
Ducky Buckin Fent
The Reds sure do like 3rd baseman.
BrandonGregory74
Quick feet and strong arms.
reflect
Can we stop using “can’t” to describe ownership spending? I’m all for businesses running themselves how they deem fit, and the Reds have every right to stick to their budget preferences, but let’s be accurate. Their refusal to cover Bryant’s salary was a choice, not a lack of ability.
DockEllisDee
I don’t argue with their deadline approach one bit. Almost every considerable trade scenario would have involved prospects they simply don’t want to part with or taking on salary that was out of their target budget (though as @reflect stated it was definitely more a matter of “won’t” than “can’t”). They needed bullpen arms and they acquired some decent help, notably Givens. My only gripe is they could’ve strengthened their pen much earlier than this, as it was apparent the pen was the biggest weakness going into this season. It pains me to wonder what their record could be now had they boasted a more reliable pen, and more competent coach, but that’s a subject for another thread.
DockEllisDee
*competent manager, to be clear
mike156
I can understand why a team like the Yankees, right up against the CBT, might need a team to throw in cash, and why an extremely cash poor team (Rays?) might do the same. This choice is interesting. Presumably, Cincy thinks their chances of making the playoffs (and “paying” for the salary out of enhanced revenues) is unlikely but not impossible, so they need the Cubs to take out the economic risk. Apropos of this and other choices, the next CBA bargaining saga is going to be a doozy.
Rsox
The Reds also checked in on the availability of Willie Greene, Luis Quinones, and Freddie Benavides
Joe It All
They actually checked on Dmitri Young, Mike Frank and Chris Stynes so they could put the Young Frank and Stynes outfield back together for another run.
stevebaratta
Best comment I’ve seen in a long time. Now I need to find cards of those guys. Thanks.
theoldviolin
Freddie is their bench coach, so just need to activate him
Armaments216
Benavides, from his seat on the Reds bench alongside skipper and fellow 3B stalwart David Bell, declined any comment.
Orel Saxhiser
RIP, J.R. Richard. A towering presence on the mound who totally dominated the Dodgers (and other teams) during his too-brief career.