3 surprise trades the Reds could pull off before the deadline

The MLB trade deadline is less than 12 hours away, and we're sure to see several unexpected moves before the clock hits 6 PM ET.

The Cincinnati Reds scooped up a left-handed reliever on Monday night after swinging a deal for Sam Moll of the Oakland Athletics. In exchange, Cincinnati sent pitching prospect Joe Boyle out west.

But will Reds fans see any surprise additions at this year's trade deadline. Let's look a few possibilities that could come out of left field.

1. Reds surprise trade candidate: Justin Verlander, New York Mets

Yes, this will certainly continue until the trade deadline passes or the New York Mets actually do the unthinkable and trade Justin Verlander. Last year's Cy Young Award-winner has been red-hot of late, which is only going to increase the price tag.

The Cincinnati Reds have been very loosely connected to Verlander for the past few days, and why shouldn't they be? Yes, Verlander is no spring chicken, but he's still quite effective and is under contract through next season.

The New York Mets recently traded Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers, so there's no reason to think they won't do the same with Verlander. The right-hander maintains a no-trade clause in his contract, so he'd have to agree to the destination before a deal could be agreed upon. Does Verlander want to finish his career in Cincinnati?

The Reds are said to be in the market for starting pitching, so Verlander definitely checks that box. While the nine-time All-Star isn't the same player he was earlier in his career, Verlander has allowed just seven runs in his last five outings and struck out 27 batters.

This still seems like an unlikely match, but there's a small chance that the Cincinnati Reds pull off this type of blockbuster deal. Reds fans would be surprised, but no shocked if Justin Verlander made his way to the Queen City before the trade deadline passes.

3. Reds surprise trade candidate: Josh Hader, San Diego Padres

It's debatable as to whether or not the San Diego Padres will be sellers at this year's trade deadline. After going all-in last year, and landing one of the biggest free agents on the market this winter, the Friars on the outside of the playoff picture.

San Diego is in a tough spot. There's so much talent on that team, including Cy Young candidate Blake Snell, that selling off pieces before the clock hits 6 PM ET seems crazy. But Padres GM A.J. Preller is nothing if not crazy in his approach at the trade deadline.

Last year, San Diego sold the farm in order to land Juan Soto. This year, Preller may be looking to recoup some of his losses. The best way to do so would be to trade Snell and closer Josh Hader.

A longtime nemesis of the Cincinnati Reds, Hader joined San Diego at last year's trade deadline. After the trade, Hader failed to recapture that dominance he had in Milwaukee. But this season, Hader has 25 saves an ERA of just 0.90. The left-hander has 61 punch outs in 40 innings of work.

Could you imagine a backend of the bullpen with Josh Hader and Alexis Diaz? Throw in Lucas Sims and any mixture of Ian Gibaut, Buck Farmer, and Alex Young, and the Reds' starters would only need to get to the sixth inning.

Adding a pitcher like Hader would effectively shrink the game from nine innings to seven. Though Hader is free agent after the season, the San Diego would unquestionably want a nice prospect or two in return. While this trade seems unlikely, don't be surprised if the Reds try to land a big fish at trade deadline.