So Reds Trade, Not Add a Starting Pitcher

[CJD]

(01-24-2017, 08:43 AM)kevin Wrote: Instead of getting a veteran starting pitcher, we just traded one.  Spring Training soon upon us. Nope, Reds are NOT bringing in veteran starters as they claimed. Their sites are set further down the road than 2017.  They will be content in last place again as they stock up in the minors. Now the trick is these players in the minors getting to the majors and then in the majors becoming solid veterans which is many years away.  I would say the Reds are looking at  2020 or later, unless they keep trading those coming up for more minor league players, and then they are looking at never.

Of course their sights are set further down the road than 2017. Nobody expects them to compete this year. It would be a nice surprise, but it won't be a problem if they don't.

They have one of the best farm systems in the Majors this year, with at least 3 young pitchers set to permanently join the club this year, and perhaps 4 to 5. Then they also have young talent in Herrera, Peraza, Winker, Senzel and a few other position players that look to reach the majors this year or next year, each of whom project to be an impact bat.

You don't need to be a "veteran" in order to be good. You can go very far with a group of 2nd and 3rd year players, especially if the management and leadership is good. 

I don't think you can say that they won't compete until 2020, especially considering how many premium prospects we have on the precipice of joining the major league club. It's going to be an exciting year watching these young players develop and we'll know more about when we will compete at the end of the year.

If all you want to do is watch a winner, go become a fan of the Red Sox or the Cubs. We are deep in a rebuild and this is one of the few trades in which we got great value, unlike the Aroldis Chapman trade where we essentially gave away the league's best reliever for a hand full of poppy seeds.