The Cincinnati Reds are throwing out the white flag on the 2022 MLB season.
A Friday night deal with the Seattle Mariners would signal the Reds are done with this season.
However, that deal isn’t the only one they have made during the season before the trade deadline.
Two major trades by the Reds in the past week show they are rebuilding the team.
So what are the trades that the Reds made that are signaling the team is rebuilding?
Reds Trade Luis Castillo To Seattle For Four Prospects
Luis Castillo was one of the starting pitchers the Reds relied on over the past six seasons.
As a cornerstone of the Reds pitching staff since 2017, trading him takes away a young talent they could use next season.
However, with Castillo returning from an injury this season, and team rebuilding, shipping him off now gave the Reds four new prospects.
Their Friday night deal with the Seattle Mariners got them prospect players Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Stoudt, and Andrew Moore.
With some of these players seen as top prospects, it would seem that Cincinnati came out on top with this deal.
Yesterday still seems surreal?
Did the Reds really trade Luis Castillo and get paid a kings ransom?
— Harrison Simpson (Tommy 🅿️ham Stan) (@therealLHSV) July 30, 2022
For Reds fans hoping to see their team back in the playoffs one day, this could be the right step.
However, the deal got them two short-stops, a position that’s filled by Kyle Farmer and Matt Reynolds.
But that could change if they trade either of those players before the deadline.
While the Castillo deal is the big one, they had another deal that was big as well.
Reds Trade Tyler Naquin And Phillip Diehl For Minor League Players
Another trade from earlier in the week saw outfielder Tyler Naquin and minor league player Phillip Diehl go to the New York Mets.
The Reds would get two minor league players in return, second baseman Hector Rodriguez and pitcher Jose Acuna.
The New York Mets have acquired OF Tyler Naquin and LHP Phillip Diehl in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. In return Cincinnati received outfielder Hector Rodríguez and RHP Jose Acuña. #MLB #LGM
— Dynes Sports (@dynessports) July 29, 2022
While these players weren’t like the ones that the Reds got in the Seattle trade, the Reds see talent in them.
However, these moves signal the team is moving on for younger and cheaper talent.
It is also something that has upset their fan base.
Reds Fans Aren’t Happy With Some Of Their Teams Trades
Not every Reds fan is sold on these trades by the Reds.
In fact, some fans are angry with the trading of Castillo.
Again… Why are we trading Castillo??? He’s a dominant pitcher in his prime. It’s because the @reds ownership is cheap & more concerned about making a lot $$$ instead of winning. A good owner would’ve found away to sign him. #SellTheTeamBob
— Ryan Campbell (@The_Cambo) July 28, 2022
These fans feel that ownership is more about money than winning.
After seeing the team trading Castillo, that could be the case.
His contract this season was over $7 million, and could have been more next season if the Reds kept him.
While he could have given the team a better chance at winning, the Reds didn’t see the value in that move.
Instead of spending money to keep him, they would take prospects who may never work out in Cincinnati.
However, fans that don’t approve see these trades as ones to keep money in their pocket, and not the players.
Continuing to run the Reds like this could cost them their fan base and keep them at the bottom of the league each year.
NEXT: Jonathan India Proposes A Deal With A Fan
Jbmtheduke says
Well we had a good team last year it was gone knows a lot of the fans are gone you get a good winning team and then I turn right around trade it off to find out I just try to Drury and c oatkllo and now Drury where is friends with his friend I am 83 years old I have been on and fan of the red one to trip to Crosby field maybe just one it’s been so long ago but I remember being there I’ve been in every stadium that the Reds have had I’ve been a fan since I was about 12 or 14 years old passing the Cincinnati and Gwar and winning my trips well I just noticed where is the trader Drury and I have the red zone right now but as disgusted as I am this might be my last game this year sorry to see all the fans go even less next year heartbreaking Joe M