Reds' NL Central rival could surprisingly turn into trade deadline seller

The National League Wild Card race is turning out to be truly wild, particularly in the Central Division. Aside from the Milwaukee Brewers, who stand atop the division, all of the other NL Central teams are in the hunt for a Wild Card spot and within four games of one another. With such a crowded field, the trade deadline will be vitally important, and it’s possible that a major Cincinnati Reds rival will opt to sell.

After winning the Cody Bellinger and Shota Imanaga sweepstakes, many selected the Chiacgo Cubs as favorites to win the division, but Chicago is currently last in the NL Central even after a 7-3 record entering the All-Star break.

The Cubs are within striking distance of the Wild Card and only a half-game back of the Reds. But they just lost Bellinger to a fractured finger and will face four teams in playoff contention — the Arizona Diamonbacks, Brewers, Kansas City Royals, and the Reds — between the All-Star break and the MLB trade deadline.

The Cubs may be on a hot streak, but their potential to enter the market as sellers could benefit the Reds.

If the Cubs do sell, Bellinger will likely be a major target, although the finger injury complicates that a bit. Nico Hoerner, who is having a down year, could also be a target as many contenders, including the Yankees and Mariners, could use a solid middle infielder. Jameson Taillon could also garner attention if the big-spending Cubs want to explore the pitching-rich free agency pool in the offseason.

A sale by the Cubs could be to the Reds’ benefit as the club looks poised to ride the line between buying and selling in 2024. They have already made a deal that got exactly no one excited, and they are being linked to deals that would send small puzzle pieces, such as relievers, to contenders. Cincinnati, though, does not seem to be at risk of selling off its young talent, and the Reds have pitching depth in the minors to weather the loss of a bullpen piece or two.

Only a half-game divides the Cubs and Reds from each other at the break, but 43 runs separate the clubs in run differential. The teams rank side-by-side in WHIP and OPS and hover near league average in most offensive categories. Still, these division rivals could be heading in two different directions heading into the trade deadline.

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