3 moves the Reds must make before the MLB work stoppage

3. The Reds should trade Sonny Gray before the MLB work stoppage.

I mentioned earlier about bringing stability to the Cincinnati Reds rotation by offering Tyler Mahle a contract extension.

The team could also bring stability to the starting rotation by finding a new home for Sonny Gray.

The Reds have drug their feet on this for long enough, and it's time for both the franchise and the pitcher to move on.

Gray's name surfaced in trade rumors last winter and he's the leading candidate on the Reds to be dealt this offseason.

Gray is owed $10.2M in 2022 and has a $12M team-option for the 2023 season. Those are very affordable numbers for a pitcher with Gray's credentials.

As was mentioned previously, the market for starting pitching is red-hot, and we've yet to see Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, and Robbie Ray agree to terms on a new contract.

If Cincinnati is ready to hand over the reins to Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, Nick Krall should deal Sonny Gray before the MLB work stoppage.

Gray has done some fine things during his tenure with the Reds, but the right-hander's 2021 season was disrupted by three separate trips to the IL.

The Reds have already lost veteran lefty Wade Miley to the Chicago Cubs and appear ready to ship Sonny Gray elsewhere.

If Gray is dealt prior to the MLB work stoppage, the Reds still have a formidable stable of starting pitchers heading into 2022.

Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, and Vladimir Gutierrez will certainly be in the mix, as will the aforementioned Greene and Lodolo. Don't sleep on Reiver Sanmartin either.