Pirates just showed the Reds the right way to handle Hunter Greene trade rumors

"Nip it in the bud!" Those famous words from deputy sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show were surely on the mind of Pittsburgh Pirates' general manager Ben Cherington at this week's GM Meetings when he quickly stomped out the notion of trading Paul Skenes this offseason.

“He (Skenes) is going to be a Pirate in 2026,” Cherington told FanSided's Robert Murray. Skenes — who was the subject of much trade speculation throughout Major League Baseball ahead of the July 31 deadline — will be staying put this winter despite the absolute haul the Pirates could receive if they made the soon-to-be Cy Young Award-winner available.

Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall could learn a thing or two from his NL Central counterpart. Rather than squelch the ongoing Hunter Greene trade rumors that have ripped across the newswire throughout the offseason, Krall continues to leave the door open for a possible trade.

Reds Rumors: Hunter Greene trade talk will continue until Cincy follows the Pirates' example

“That’s a hard one to actually say, ‘Hey, we’re actually going to do that.’ A guy who has a chance to be an ace of your staff," Krall told Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith when asked about the possibility of trading Greene this offseason.

Krall and the rest of the Cincinnati leadership have had multiple opportunities to to defuse these Reds rumors, and this is just the latest example of their refusal to so. Krall has maintained this type of vague and measured response to any trade speculation throughout the offseason, and even Reds manager Terry Francona has failed to extinguish the rumors when given the chance.

All the Reds' brass has to do is say something to the effect of, "While we appreciate the interest from other organizations, our plan is for Hunter Greene be our Opening Day starter in 2026." Instead, Krall and Co. continue to leave the door cracked ever so slightly, which suggests that their commitment to Greene is unstable at best.

The team's pitching depth and lack of offense are the two biggest reasons these Reds rumors have even bubbled up to the surface. Trading Greene this offseason would undoubtedly allow the Reds to add top talent to their Major League roster and the farm system, but it would severely lessen the effectiveness of their starting rotation. When healthy, Greene is considered by many to be a top-20 pitcher in the league.

These Reds rumors won't let up until Krall, Francona and the rest of the organization's decision-makers plainly state that Greene is off limits. Until they do that, Reds fans should expect to keep hearing about a potential blockbuster trade this offseason.