Former Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowden thinks the club should stop chasing the present and start working the trade market with 2027 in mind.
Speaking on Foul Territory, Bowden said the Reds ought to be sellers at the deadline and use a thin market to their advantage. Cincinnati entered July 8 at 41-49, sitting last in the National League Central, 16.5 games behind Milwaukee and 8.0 games back in the Wild Card race.
"I think if you're the Reds, let's plan on '27," Bowden told AJ Pierzynski." How are we gonna turn this around?
Even if you do get hot, you're not a contending team. You're not good enough.
You're just not. But you certainly have a starting rotation to build upon.
You've got to get the position players figured out. And to do that, take advantage of this deadline.
There's not a lot of sellers out there. … If you're the Reds, you've got a lot of pieces.
"Turn Spencer Steer into three guys. Get a couple of guys for Brady Singer.
Listen on Abbott or Lodolo to see if somebody wants to overpay for left-handed starting pitching. This is a really good seller's market.
If I'm the Reds, let's quickly try to pivot and plan for '27 and beyond."
Bowden pointed to four names as possible trade chips: Spencer Steer, Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo. He said the Reds should explore moving Steer for multiple players, deal Singer for a return, and at least listen on Abbott and Lodolo if another team is willing to pay a premium for left-handed starting pitching.
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