While the 2023 Cincinnati Reds were surging to the top of the National League Central last summer, they opted against dipping their toes into the deepest of deep-ends of the trade market ahead of the July 31st trade deadline. The cost, we were told, was simply too high for the key starters, and the club instead opted to hold on to its most prized prospects and play the long game.
That came with a minor exception, however. The Reds did deal 6’8” fireballer Joe Boyle to Oakland for the services of a lefty who stands almost a foot shorter.