Little indication Reds will make major moves as trade deadline looms closer

There was a movie back in 1982 in which a controversial subject had the governor stepping around the subject with nonsensical answers.

After the governor answered the question with a non-answer, one reporter looked at another reporter and asked, “Was that a yes or a no?”

To which the other reporter answered, “It’s a possible maybe.”

Fast-forward to 2025 and Cincinnati Reds’ general manager Nick Krall answering what the team’s plans are as the 6 p.m. trade deadline on July 31 continues to creep nearer.

Just like the slick talking governor, Krall said, "We’re working on all different sides right now. We’re looking at deals that can help us for now and the future."

The Reds came out of the All-Star break and managed to reach 5 games over .500 for the first time this season and in the hunt for a wild card berth. But a pair of losses to the hapless Washington Nationals  proved to be critical.

As for Krall, if you do have to answer, then just answer, but contradict yourself. It’s not only a business strategy, it can be very entertaining to confuse the media and leave fans in an unlighted stadium.

Before the All-Star break, Krall said, “You’d always like to buy, no matter where you are. That’s the goal. Let’s see how we play over the next couple of weeks and where we are.”

But he then added, it is always good to have the perspective of your team seeking to be buyers, and his position has not changed.

Krall later contradicted himself saying, “It’s depending on who is playing well and not playing well, who is injured or not injured, where you are record-wise. You’re always evaluating where you are and what you have.”

The Reds need some power and maybe some bullpen help. There are plenty of starting pitching candidates which makes starter Nick Martinez the prime trade candidate for teams needing starting pitching.

But the Reds somehow thought Martinez was Homer Bailey and exercised their option to keep Martinez for $21 million. Martinez has not been living up to his end of the bargain and the Reds will probably have to eat some of the salary in a trade.

To be honest, the other team should pay $2 million and the Reds pick up the rest just for being stupid.

The Reds managed to dump Alexis Diaz on the Dodgers — couldn’t happen to a nicer franchise — and Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been shipped to the minor leagues.

C-ES was supposed to be a big power bat in the lineup but that has never materialized. To make matters worse, the only thing worse than his hitting is his defense which limits him to being able to play only…..designated hitter? He’s batting .208 with 6 home runs and 19 runs batted in. Not much of a DH. Can you make him a bullpen catcher?

The Reds have never seriously addressed third base or right field. Those are two positions that need to have a power hitter. The mistake of trading Eugenio Suarez could be corrected if the Reds would actually make a serious effort to make a trade with Arizona.

Suarez will become a free agent at the end of the season but he loved playing in Cincinnati and was crushed when he was traded away to Seattle. Maybe, just maybe….

Forget it. The Yankees will win this bidding war.

Possible right fielders on the trading block are Ryan O’Hearn of the Orioles, Steven Kwan of the Indians, er, sorry, Guardians (what a stupid name), or Taylor Ward of the Angels.  All have power and O’Hearn was an All-Star this year.

But why trade for them when you can play Jake Fraley and his 5 home runs or Will Benson who averages one strikeout per three at-bats.

Hard-throwing rookie Chase Burns has been racking up the strikeouts but the Reds are playing it on the caution side of innings pitched. If the Reds want to limit his innings, make him a closer. His strikeout ability could save a lot of games or choke off a lot of late inning rallies.

The only problem with making Burns a reliever is the status of Hunter Greene who spends more time on the injured list than Santa does at the North Pole.

If the Reds opt to deal for a reliever, try Kyle Finnegan of the Nationals, David Bednar of the Pirates or Pete Fairbanks of the Rays.

The Reds still have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, but spending money is something their investors don’t like because it cuts down on their share of the profits.

So what will Nick Krall do at the trading deadline? In the singing words of the late, great actor Charles Durning, “Ooh, I love to do a little sidestep.”