Reds starting rotation after Frankie Montas trade must address back-end depth

The Cincinnati Reds made two key trades before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday. One sent Lucas Sims to the Boston Red Sox for a prospect, but the other saw Cincinnati ship Frankie Montas to a division rival.

The Reds traded Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Joey Wiemer and reliever Jakob Junis. Montas was going to be a free agent after the season, and while the right-hander was healthy enough to take the ball every fifth day, the production wasn't there.

Montas was credited for his leadership and mentorship of some of the Reds' young starters, especially Hunter Greene. Speaking of the Reds' All-Star, who else from the Cincinnati rotation is left after Montas was dealt to the Brewers?

Reds starting rotation after Frankie Montas trade must address back-end depth

Greene, who has been arguably the best starting pitcher for the past month, will still be wearing a Reds jersey with the MLB trade deadline in the rearview mirror. The former first-round pick has come into his own this season and the contract extension he signed last spring is beginning to look like a bargain.

In addition to Greene, another former first-round has been pitching well this season. Nick Lodolo unsurprisingly survived the MLB trade deadline and will be taking the ball every fifth day for the ole Redlegs during the second half of the 2024 season.

Andrew Abbott was a name that a handful of Reds fans (foolishly) tossed about as a potential trade chip. And while Abbott would've fetched a pretty nice return, there's absolutely no reason that the Reds should contemplate dealing the southpaw. Abbott will be around for Cincinnati's stretch run.

Finally, Carson Spiers is the Reds' fourth starter at the moment. The rookie is back from his stint on the IL, and has been one of the biggest surprises for the Reds this season. With Montas now in Milwaukee, Spiers' spot in the rotation is all but assured over the final two months of the season.

Who will occupy that fifth and final spot in the rotation is anyone's guess. Of the players on the Reds' 40-man roster, the most likely to nab the role would be Nick Martinez. Lyon Richardson is another name to watch before the Reds head to South Beach for their next road trip.

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