Mike Minor's setback makes Reds GM Nick Krall look like a complete buffoon

Trading Sonny Gray for a high-upside prospect? I get it. Attaching Jesse Winker to Eugenio Suárez's contract in a trade for some inexpensive, young pieces? I don't like it, but I understand it. Trading a left-handed reliever for a veteran starter on a $10M contract with a $1M buyout for the 2023 season? What in the world was Nick Krall thinking?

Seriously, when the Cincinnati Reds traded Amir Garrett to the Kansas City Royals for Mike Minor, I really had to question the general manager's sanity. I had no qualms with the Reds trading AG. Zero! He should have been designated for assignment last season. But why trade him for Minor?

Now, after experiencing shoulder soreness after his pitching for Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday, the Reds have officially stopped Minor's rehab assignment. I'm smelling a trip to the 60-day Injured List and Krall deserves every bit of criticism he's bound to receive for this charade.

Reds GM Nick Krall looks like a buffoon.

The Cincinnati Reds could've picked up Wade Miley's team-option after last season for $10M. Instead, they decided to waive the left-hander who was then claimed by the Chicago Cubs. Miley, like Mike Minor, was injured to start the 2022 season as well.

Then, the Reds front office proceeded to trade Sonny Gray and his $10.2M salary for hard-throwing right-handed prospect Chase Petty. At the time, I didn't mind the trade. It seemed like a good way for Cincinnati to rid themselves of Gray's salary and add a top pitching prospect to the team's farm system.

After all, waiving Miley and trading Gray opening up two spots in the Cincinnati rotation, which was perfect because both Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo were ready to make their big league debuts in 2022. So complicate matters by going out and trading for Mike Minor?

Minor, at 34 years of age, is owed $10M this season and has a $13M club-option for the 2023 season with a $1M buyout. Kansas City was rumored to to have included $500K in the deal as well.

The trade didn't make any sense at the time. It doesn't make any sense now. And the latest information regarding Mike Minor's shoulder injury only makes Nick Krall and the Cincinnati Reds front office look even worse.