MLB Insider: Potential Reds trade target rumored to be moved before Winter Meetings

The Cincinnati Reds made their first addition of the offseason on Wednesday after reportedly coming to terms with free agent reliever Emilio Pagán.

But Reds fans know that in order to be competitive in the National League Central next season, Cincinnati needs to add a frontline starter.

The Reds have already been linked to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow and former AL Cy Young Award-winner Shane Bieiber. But there's another trade target that Reds Country is begging to see traded to the Queen City this winter.

Reds trade target Dylan Cease is rumored to be moved before Winter Meetings

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, trade discussions involving Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease have intensified in the last 48 hours. In fact, those close to the negotiations believe a trade could be made before the MLB Winter Meetings.

Will the Cincinnati Reds be part of those trade discussions? The Reds have yet to be linked directly to Cease, but if president of baseball operations Nick Krall is already kicking the tires on Tyler Glasnow and Shane Bieber, you can bet he's inquired about Cease as well.

One distinct advantage that comes with trading for Dylan Cease is the added year of team-control. Cease will not become a free agent until after the 2025 season. Both Glasnow and Bieiber will be free agents next winter.

As such, it's a good assumption that the return for Cease's services would be much higher than if the Reds were to swing a deal for Glasnow or Bieber.

Cease was in the Cy Young discussion in 2022, but a down-year in 2023 combined with the White Sox roster rebuild could see the right-hander wearing a different uniform next season.

Dylan Cease is 43-35 in 123 career starts with a 3.83 ERA. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is that top-of-the-rotation starter the Reds fanbase is covetting this offseason. Perhaps Nick Krall can get a deal done in the next few days.