5 pitchers the Reds could target in the final hours of the MLB trade deadline

Pitching, especially starting pitching, is a hot commodity with the MLB trade deadline a little over 24 hours away. The Cincinnati Reds seem to have a good enough lineup to make a run at the postseason, but the team could certainly use an extra arm or two down the stretch.

The Texas Rangers made a splash by trading for former Cy Young Award-winner Max Scherzer. The Los Angeles Dodgers landed Lance Lynn in a trade with the Chicago White Sox last week, and the South Siders also dealt fellow starter Lucas Giolito to the Los Angels Angels.

But, there's still plenty of activity still to come in the final hours before the August 1st deadline. With a little more than 24 hours remaining until the MLB trade deadline, who are some of the pitchers the Reds could land in order to bolster their playoff chances?

1. The Reds could target NY Mets pitcher Justin Verlander before the MLB trade deadline.

The Cincinnati Reds have been very loosely linked to the Justin Verlander. The New York Mets starter has been dynamite of late, which is only going to up the price tag in terms of a return. In the end, the cost will likely be too steep for Nick Krall's liking.

Make no mistake, the Reds could easily fit Verlander's massive salary into the payroll for both the remainder of this season and into 2024. Verlander also has a vesting option for the 2025 season.

The only guaranteed money Cincinnati owes next season is the $3-million salary attached to Hunter Greene's new contract. The Reds are on the hook for Joey Votto's $7-million buyout, and will see an increase in pay to the likes of Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson, Nick Senzel, Jake Fraley, and Lucas Sims through arbitration.

But the majority of players who'll be on Cincinnati's 40-man roster will be making the league minimum. Players like Graham Ashcraft, Nick Lodolo, Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Andrew Abbott are all pre-arbitration eligible.

But after watching the Texas Rangers forfeit on of their top prospects (Luisangel Acuña) in the trade for Max Scherzer, it's going to cost the Cincinnati Reds a young player like Edwin Arroyo or Cam Collier in order to secure the services of Justin Verlander. It's not impossible, but it seems unlikely.