Way-too-early Reds 2024 Opening Day roster predictions

Way-too-early Reds 2024 Opening Day starting rotation (5)

Logan Gilbert, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft

The Cincinnati Reds need another starting pitcher. Might Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall give Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners a call once again?

The Mariners and Reds have been frequent trade partners in the past, and there's no reason to believe they can't do so once again. Working out some sort of deal that would send Jonathan India and prospects to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for Logan Gilbert could be a win-win for both clubs.

The M's need hitting and the Reds need pitching. Cincinnati has an abundance of infielders and Seattle has a plethora of arms. Obviously it would take more than just India to secure Gilbert's services, but the Reds have a deep farm system and could unload a prospect or two to sweeten the deal.

Gilbert, who has four years of team-control remaining, was 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA and 3.85 FIP last season. According to FanGraphs, Gilbert walked fewer than five-percent of the batters he faced in 2023. This would be a massive get if the Reds were able to pull this off.

The rest of the Cincinnati Reds rotation seems academic at this point. Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft will be part of the starting rotation, and provided Nick Lodolo is fully heathy, he'll be part of the group as well.

That fifth spot will come down to one of three pitchers - Andrew Abbott, Brandon Williamson, or Connor Phillips. Abbott would seem to be the most polished of the trio. Sending Williamson and Phillips to the minors to begin the 2024 season is a luxury that very few teams will have.