Reds apprehensive to add starters with Hunter Greene & Nick Lodolo set to return

The Cincinnati Reds added left-handed reliever Sam Moll on Monday night, but it would appear as though Nick Krall and his team are not done yet.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network is reporting that the Reds are still in the market for starting pitching with the trade deadline just hours away.

However, there's hesitancy on the part of the Reds' brass, as the price tag for starting pitching is said to be very high. Morosi is reporting that the impending returns of Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo have given the Reds cause to pause.

Return of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo slows trade talks for starters.

Today, the Cincinnati Reds sent starting pitcher Hunter Greene on a rehab assignment. Despite being placed on the 60-day IL just yesterday, Greene is able to return to the rotation as early as August 17th.

Nick Lodolo hasn't yet begun his rehab assignment, but all signs point to the left-hander returning to the team later this month. With their top two starting pitchers ready to return before September, it's understandable that Nick Krall and front office seem unwilling to pay the high price it'll take to land a starting pitcher.

The Detroit Tigers are looking for a nice return in exchange for Michael Lorenzen and Eduardo Rodriguez. The New York Mets are attempting to deal former Cy Young Award-winner Justin Verlander. And the St. Louis Cardinals are dangling Jack Flaherty as well.

But with it being a seller's market, the Cincinnati Reds would have to be willing to part with top prospect or two in order to seal the deal. Jon Morosi's report would seem to indicate that if the right deal was presented, Cincinnati would pull trigger.

However, don't expect the Reds to backup the Brinks truck in order to add a starter with both Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo so close to returning. The next few hours will be interesting to watch.