Reds Rumors: Could this Cincy pitcher surprisingly be on the move at trade deadline?

Yes, the Cincinnati Reds made a trade with the San Francisco Giants earlier this week to help bolster the team's anemic offense. But don't let the acquisition of Austin Slater fool you, the Reds are more likely to be sellers — not buyers — at this year's trade deadline.

Now, does that mean that players like Jonathan India, Jeimer Candelario, or several of the Reds' young, up-and-coming talent will be made available before July 30th? No, this isn't going to be a repeat of 2022. But the possibility exists for Cincinnati to jettison a number of players whose contracts are up after this season.

Relievers like Lucas Sims and Buck Farmer might draw some interest, but so could starting pitcher Frankie Montas. Cincinnati inked Montas to a one-year contract this past offseason, and a number of contending teams who are looking for a middle-of-the-rotation starter may inquire as to whether or not the Reds Opening Day starter is available at the MLB trade deadline.

Reds Rumors: Could Frankie Montas be dealt at the MLB trade deadline?

Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently published his list of 17 starting pitchers who could be on the move ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Montas was on that list, and Heyman even went as far to say that there's a medium chance the former New York Yankees hurler is playing elsewhere later this summer.

At the moment, that scenario seems rather unlikely. The Reds brought in free agents like Montas, Candelario, and Nick Martinez this winter with the intention of establishing a veteran presence on a very young ball club.

However, the Reds have fallen on tough times, and the offense has been abysmal of late. With pitchers like Rhett Lowder, Chase Petty, and Connor Phillips in the Reds' farm system, it's easy to see how the right offer could entice Nick Krall to ship Montas elsewhere ahead of the July 30th deadline.

If the Reds are hopelessly out of contention as the MLB trade deadline draws closer, the idea of dealing Montas could become more than just an idea — it could become reality.

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