The Cincinnati Reds made some shrewd transactions this past offseason. Adding the likes of Brandon Drury, Albert Almora, and Matt Reynolds have certainly helped during the injury-filled outset of the 2022 season.
But I think most Reds fans would agree that a majority of the front office's moves this season would be the equivalent of a swing and miss. Cincinnati traded away some of the best players and some of what they received in return is questionable at best.
While competing for a division title in 2022 wasn't really in the cards for the Reds this season, there were a handful of moves that eliminated any possibility of Cincinnati making a run at the postseason. What three offseason misses stick out the most?
1. The Reds should never have traded for Mike Minor.
This was easily the most puzzling move of the offseason for the Cincinnati Reds. After waiving left-handed starter Wade Miley last fall, the Reds traded for left-handed starter Mike Minor during the spring.
Miley was owed $10M in 2022 if the Reds were to have picked up his team-option, but instead Cincinnati lost him for nothing and the 35-year-old was picked up by the Chicago Cubs. The Reds decided to fill his spot in the starting rotation with another 34-year-old who's owed, wait for it, $10M this season.
This is just a trade that should never have happened. In return, the Reds gave up Amir Garrett. Now I've got no problem with Cincinnati trading AG, but go get a couple of mid-tier prospects instead of a veteran pitcher that's going to cost you $10M.
Mike Minor began the 2022 season on the IL. In his first three starts, the southpaw owns a 7.36 ERA and has already allowed six home runs. This was an utterly awful deal on the part of the Reds front office.