Reds last remaining piece of the Johnny Cueto trade signs a minor-league deal with the White Sox

Brandon Finnegan, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds Triple-A affiliate in 2021, has agreed a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Finnegan logged 55.1 innings for the Louisville Bats last season and posted a 5.53 ERA.

Former Reds LHP signed with the White Sox.

Brandon Finnegan made his big league debut for the Kansas City Royals in 2014 and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds the following season.

On July 26, 2015, Johnny Cueto was dealt to the Royals in exchange for Finnegan, Cody Reed, and John Lamb.

Finnegan was the only one of those three southpaws with any major league experience.

Lamb was a former fifth-round pick of the Royals whose career was derailed by injury.

Reed was dealt to Tampa Bay last season. Reed was a second-round draft pick in 2014 and has found little to no success at the big league level.

In all, the three left-handers combined for a 17-41 win/ loss record and 5.15 ERA. Ouch!

On the flip side, Johnny Cueto helped anchor the Kansas City Royals rotation for the remainder of the 2015 season.

Cueto went 4-7 with the Royals, striking out 56 batters and earning a share of the 2015 World Series title.

Cueto would go on to sign a mega-deal with the San Francisco Giants. The right-hander went to one All-Star Game in 2016 and posted a 3.81 ERA.

This is an example of what the Cincinnati Reds cannot do if the front office chooses to trade Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, or Sonny Gray.

After the MLB lockout ends, we're sure to hear the trio's name come up in trade conversations once again.

If Nick Krall and the Reds' front office are set on dealing a player like Luis Castillo, the return has to be worth it.

The starting pitching market is no longer ripe with superstars, and if available, Castillo may represent the biggest upgrade for a contending team's starting rotation.