3 players the Reds may look to trade for during the offseason

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The MLB trade deadline has come and gone. Outside of the addition of left-handed pitcher, the Cincinnati Reds did not make any significant upgrades.

But that doesn't mean that the Reds didn't entertain the thought. Per his interview with Bally Sports' broadcaster Jim Day, Reds GM Nick Krall said that the team had a lot of conversations, but just couldn't get anything done.

All along, it seemed like the offseason may be the best time for the Cincinnati Reds to pull off a trade that may help the team over the long haul. Who are three players that Reds fans should keep an eye on over the winter?

1. Reds could trade for Mariners pitcher George Kirby during the offseason.

How much are the Cincinnati Reds willing to give up? Because the price tag for Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby will be through the roof. One thing the Cincinnati Reds were said to be targeting at the trade deadline was young, controllable starting pitching. Kirby certainly checks those boxes.

Kirby does not become a free agent until after the 2028 season. Taken in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Kirby is Seattle's No. 2 starter beyond former Reds pitcher Luis Castillo.

Kirby finished sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting to his teammate Julio Rodriguez a year ago and went to the All-Star Game this year. Kirby has fantastic stuff, oftentimes getting the opposition to chase while keeping men off the bases. According to Baseball Savant, Kirby has a 2.7-percent walk-rate.

Securing the services of George Kirby will be no easy task, however, the Seattle Mariners have a ton of pitching depth. On the flipside, the M's bats have been ice-cold this season. Seattle's .711 OPS ranks 22nd among all major league ball clubs. Perhaps Jerry Dipoto and Nick Krall could pull off another blockbuster this offseason.

2. Reds could trade for Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert during the offseason.

Let's stay in the Emerald City for a moment, shall we? As was stated previously, the Seattle Mariners would be dealing from a position of strength if they're willing to part company with one of the club's top pitchers.

While Geroge Kirby has been fantastic in 2023, Logan Gilbert has shined as well. Gilbert is another former first-round pick, taken at No. 14 in the 2018 MLB Draft. A year older than Kirby, Gilbert is under team control through the 2027 season.

Gilbert doesn't carry the same accolades as Kirby, but that just means that the price tag wouldn't be as high. Still, a career-ERA of 3.83 and four years of team control is nothing to sneeze at.

Gilbert also keeps the base paths clear. With only 21 free passes in over 120 innings pitched, Gilbert has a 4.2-percent walk-rate. Gilbert isn't going to blow you away with his velocity, but his fastball sits around 95 mph and has two plus-breaking pitches.

Again, the Seattle Mariners need bats. With Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, and Spencer Steer looking like the future of the Cincinnati Reds infield, this is where the idea of trading from a position of strength comes in.

Do the Reds make Jonathan India available in a trade this offseason? A team like Seattle could definitely be interested. It'll be an intriguing story to follow as both teams would be looking for something that the other club has a plethora of.

3. Reds could trade for White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease during the offseason.

There was a lot of chatter surrounding Dylan Cease at the trade deadline on Tuesday. Unlike the two Seattle Mariners' hurlers, Cease has already reached his arbitration window, but is still under team control through 2025.

Cease is an interesting case. The right-hander may not cost as much in terms of prospect capital, but the Chicago White Sox aren't just going to give him away. The South Siders began to restock their farm system this past week after dealing away Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, and Keynan Middleton.

But Chicago still has Luis Robert, Tim Anderson, and Eloy Jimenez under contract heading into 2023. Both Anderson and JImenez were rumored to be on the trade block before yesterday's deadline.

The White Sox don't necessarily have a clear direction, but with the right mix of talent, Chicago could be right back in the thick of a weak American League Central Division by 2025 with the right mix of trades during the offseason.

Both the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers were said to be in on Dylan Cease before the trade deadline came and went, so you'd have to assume that both ball clubs will be chasing the right-hander once the offseason rolls around. Both the Orioles and Dodgers deep farm systems.

The Cincinnati Reds stuck to their plan at the trade deadline. With the team ahead of schedule, Reds GM Nick Krall said that the plan was to continue to build from within while drafting and developing their own talent. But don't think that the Reds will sleepwalk through the offseason without making a trade or two.

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