Reds' nonsensical link to Nick Pivetta has Cincy's fanbase trying to connect the dots

For some odd reason, the Cincinnati Reds continue to be linked to right-handed free agent pitcher Nick Pivetta. Jon Heyman's most recent column for the New York Post stated that both the Reds and Toronto Blue Jays have been connected to the former Boston Red Sox's starter.

The rumors tying the Reds to Pivetta are utterly preposterous. Not only do the Reds have an abundance of depth in their starting rotation, but Pivetta's signing would come with the forfeiture of a draft pick.

Pivetta received and rejected a qualifying offer from the Red Sox, meaning that in order to sign the 31-year-old to a free agent contract, Cincinnati would lose their third-highest selection in the 2025 MLB Draft. The Reds has historically put too high a price tag on draft capital to believe that these rumors are remotely true. But these Reds rumors are strangely suspicious, aren't they?

Reds Rumors: Cincy's ties to Nick Pivetta won't go away

If the Reds are even considering signing a free agent who's rejected a QO, why not go after a position of need like an outfielder? Both Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander were tagged with a QO this offseason. If there's any area of the Reds roster that needs an upgrade, it's the outfield — Nick Krall has even said as much.

The only logical assumption — outside of the notion that Cincinnati is being used to drive up the asking price for Pivetta's services — is that Krall and Co. have the barebones of a trade in place that includes one of their young starting pitchers. Perhaps the Reds are dangling a player like Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, or Rhett Lowder to other clubs in order to secure that corner outfielder that the Cincinnati faithful have been coveting for the past three seasons.

Cincinnati's stable of starters is an embarrassment of riches at the moment. Even if one of those three aforementioned pitchers was dealt this offseason, the Reds still have Hunter Greene, Nick Martinez, and Brady Singer. If you then include Pivetta and the other two pitchers who weren't part of some fanciful trade package, the Reds' starting rotation would still be one of the best in the National League.

These Reds rumors seem rather odd until you remind yourself that less than month ago Cincinnati was seeking a trade for Garrett Crochet. So while Reds fans continue to scratch their heads at the idea of signing Pivetta to a free agent deal, there seems to be more than meets the eye when it comes to club's pursuit of another starting pitcher.

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