The following passage is adapted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To access the complete newsletter, click here and subscribe to receive it regularly in your inbox.
CINCINNATI – As the National League Championship Series unfolds, featuring the Phillies and D-backs as Wild Card contenders, it’s natural to reflect on how close the Reds were to reaching the postseason this year.
Had the Reds made it, who knows what might have transpired? Few expected the underdog Arizona team to overcome the favored Brewers and Dodgers in the earlier playoff rounds.
Unfortunately, the Reds faltered in the final stretch and concluded the season with an 82-80 record, two games behind the D-backs for the last NL Wild Card spot. Cincinnati would have secured the tiebreaker for that berth due to their superior performance in the season series.
Could the Reds have made it to October baseball with some additional assistance?
At the August 1 Trade Deadline, the Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sam Moll but did not address their need for a starting pitcher. Nick Krall, now serving as the president of baseball operations after his promotion from general manager last month, stands by his decision and has no regrets.
“I don’t have any regrets about not making any moves,” said Krall on Wednesday. “I still wouldn’t have traded players from our roster for short-term assets. It would have been a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, sacrificing years of control with our younger players. It simply didn’t make sense to me.”
The Reds’ rotation struggled throughout the season, finishing with a 5.43 ERA, which ranked 28th in MLB. This was the same ranking they held on August 1. At the time, the team was hopeful that Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo would return from the injured list by the end of August. However, Greene, who had been sidelined for two months with a hip injury, struggled upon his return, and Lodolo never made it back from a stress reaction in his left tibia suffered in May. Additionally, the team faced a ᴄᴏᴠɪᴅ-19 outbreak in early September that affected several members of the pitching staff.
In conclusion, the Reds fell just short of the playoffs this year, and although the team’s rotation struggled, the decision not to make significant moves at the trade deadline was supported by the organization’s commitment to long-term success and the development of their young players.
Hunter Greene K’s three
According to Nick Krall, many of the trade requests the Reds received for rental pitchers were not for prospects in the lower levels of the player development system. Instead, teams sought young players and prospects who were either already on the big league roster or were expected to make their debut in the final two months of the season.
Krall mentioned that Connor Phillips was a player who garnered significant interest from other teams. He also revealed that teams inquired about Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. In an interesting twist, one team even asked for Andrew Abbott, despite him being a pitcher already in the Reds’ rotation. Phillips, on the other hand, ended up starting games for the Reds in the big leagues towards the end of the season.
Krall pointed out that some of the starting pitchers acquired by other clubs in trades did not perform as expected down the stretch. While Jordan Montgomery fared well for the Rangers, others like Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Jack Flaherty struggled to meet expectations.
During the discussion with Krall on Wednesday, several other topics were touched upon:
No decisions have been made yet regarding the $20 million club option for first baseman Joey Votto. If the option is declined, the 40-year-old would receive a $7 million buyout but could still return to the team as a free agent. Krall mentioned that the offseason plans and roster considerations are still being worked through.
In summary, teams expressed interest in key young players and prospects from the Reds’ big league roster or those expected to make their debut in the final months. Despite the availability of starting pitchers on the trade market, some of the acquired pitchers did not perform as anticipated. The future of first baseman Joey Votto remains uncertain, with decisions on his club option yet to be made.
Joey Votto on getting ejected
According to Nick Krall, the Reds’ front office will thoroughly assess all aspects of improving the club for the 2024 season.
“We will have to look at all aspects about improving the club this offseason. Whether it’s starting pitching, bullpen, or position players, we’re going to have to consider everything,” Krall stated.
Heading into Spring Training, the Reds will have increased depth at several positions. This is particularly true in the infield and rotation. In the infield, they have players like Jonathan India, Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and potentially Joey Votto. As for the rotation, there are candidates such as Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips. If an external starting pitcher is added, the competition for rotation spots will become even more intense.
“We’re going to have some tough decisions to make as we approach the end of camp,” Krall acknowledged. “This offseason, can we bring in some players to upgrade our roster? And what will the final roster look like at the end of camp?”
Consequently, some players who had major league experience this season might find themselves starting the next season at Triple-A Louisville.
“That’s probably going to have to happen. It will be an option for some individuals,” Krall revealed.
Although there is a possibility that Spencer Steer could transition to the outfield in 2024, Krall clarified that there are currently no plans to move Jonathan India or Elly De La Cruz out of their infield positions.
The Reds have not yet established a 2024 budget for baseball operations, but they will be conducting meetings next week to address this matter.
Lastly, all of manager David Bell’s coaches will be returning for the next season, ensuring continuity in the coaching staff.