The Cincinnati Reds may be headed for a major off-field shakeup, and it could be the kind that changes the whole direction of the franchise.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, rival MLB owners are predicting that Cincinnati will be the next team sold. Nightengale wrote, "Rival owners predict that the Cincinnati Reds could be the next MLB team sold," adding, "Certainly, Bob Castellini will make a cool profit if he does put them on the block, purchasing the franchise for $270 million in 2006. It's now worth about $1.6 billion."
For Reds fans, that would be a seismic development. A new owner would bring the possibility of a bigger payroll and a different approach to building the roster, something Cincinnati has lacked for years as it has stayed away from major free-agent spending.
That restraint has already left its mark. The Reds passed on hometown slugger Kyle Schwarber this past offseason, instead watching him return to the Philadelphia Phillies. A five-year, $150 million deal for a designated hitter was a steep price, but Schwarber leads the National League in home runs, which makes the missed opportunity sting even more.
And it’s not just Schwarber. The broader issue has been Cincinnati’s reluctance to go big either in free agency or, at times, even with its own players. That has kept the roster from getting the kind of infusion it needs to make a real jump.
Sal Stewart developing into a superstar certainly helps, but the Reds still need more investment to climb back into the playoff mix and beyond. If a sale does happen and the next owner is willing to spend, the outlook could look a lot different than it does now.
For now, the idea is just a prediction from rival owners. But if it turns into reality, it could give Cincinnati something it has been missing for a while: real long-term hope.
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