Cincinnati Reds’ interest in Dan Straily assures Trevor Bauer is history

It’s time for Reds fans to stop hoping for Trevor Bauer’s return.

Reds Country can give up their foolish thoughts of re-signing Trevor Bauer. The NL Cy Young-winner is a free agent, but soon enough Bauer will sign a hefty contract. Don’t expect it to be with the Cincinnati Reds, as the most recent news surrounding former Cincinnati hurler Dan Straily suggests that Nick Krall and the front office have turned their attention elsewhere.

This shouldn’t be surprising, as the writing has been on the wall for several weeks. Trevor Bauer threw his last pitch for the Reds during Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves. What a way to go out though, right? Bauer went 7.2 innings, struck out 12 batters, and allowed just two hits.

After 102 pitches, Bauer’s day was done, and the Reds anemic offense assured his time in the Queen City had come to a close as well. Cincinnati lost to Atlanta in extra innings and failed to put runs on the board in Game 2 as well. The Redlegs were swept out of the postseason and are left to regroup this winter.

Cincinnati extended a qualifying offer to Trevor Bauer, assuring the team will receive draft compensation should the right-hander sign elsewhere. The New York Mets have already been rumored to have interest in Bauer, and with the new ownership in the Big Apple, they’re ready to spend big in an effort to bring a winner to Queens.

As if the high-dollar teams courting Bauer weren’t enough, news surfaced yesterday of the Cincinnati Reds’ rumored interest in former pitcher Dan Straily. The right-hander had his best major league season in 2016 as a member of the Reds. Straily was traded during the offseason to the Miami Marlins in a deal that brought Luis Castillo to Cincinnati.

The Reds have been said to have had contract discussions with Trevor Bauer, but nothing significant. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that Bauer will land a four-year/$128M contract with the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s an average annual value of $32M. That’s much too rich for the Reds blood with Cincinnati’s projected payroll already likely to top $130M.

While many fans have been holding out hope that Krall and the Cincinnati front office would entertain the idea of re-signing Bauer, it doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Reds Country should forget the idea of re-signing Bauer, say “thank you”, and embrace the newest member of the starting rotation in 2021; whoever that will be.