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The sweep of the Rays defined the Reds’ deadline. They have to buy. They’ll get Greene back soon, making the rotation even better, and a Greene/Abbott/Lodolo/Singer playoff rotation can win multiple series. What they need -- corner bats and relievers -- are generally the easier things to find at the trade deadline. They have the org depth to make second-tier deals, and if the right players are available, to make bigger ones. Adding payroll shouldn’t be a problem because the Reds have the opportunity to make back their investments at the gate. They averaged 30,000 tickets sold their last two home weekends, and they have weekend series coming up in August with the Brewers and Cardinals -- part of a difficult August slate.
The catch is that the Reds are probably playing for one playoff spot. They’re 6 1/2 behind the Cubs and Brewers, and 4 1/2 behind the Phillies for the second wild-card slot. While it isn’t out of the question for them to chase down any or all of those teams, they’re most likely playing for the #6 seed and only the #6 seed -- which right now gets them a best-of-three at Dodger Stadium. Tough row to hoe.
That’s not enough reason to keep your powder dry, not for a team a dozen years removed from its last playoff run. The starters did their job over the weekend. The front office has to do its job now.
The catch is that the Reds are probably playing for one playoff spot. They’re 6 1/2 behind the Cubs and Brewers, and 4 1/2 behind the Phillies for the second wild-card slot. While it isn’t out of the question for them to chase down any or all of those teams, they’re most likely playing for the #6 seed and only the #6 seed -- which right now gets them a best-of-three at Dodger Stadium. Tough row to hoe.
That’s not enough reason to keep your powder dry, not for a team a dozen years removed from its last playoff run. The starters did their job over the weekend. The front office has to do its job now.
