Reds rumors grow louder after Nick Krall sidesteps Hunter Greene trade talk

It wasn't long ago that Nick Krall did everything but flat-out confirm that the Cincinnati Reds weren't going to trade Hunter Greene. When asked about the prospect of moving Greene this winter at the GM Meetings, Krall's comments were pointed.

“Look, we’re trying to do what’s best for our team. I don’t want to rule out anything,” Krall said, speaking specifically about Greene. It was typical GM-speak, or at least so it seemed. He'd go on to add, “We’re looking to figure out how to get better, but right now that’s not on the table.”

Case closed, right? In plain English, Krall was saying that if someone wants to blow them away, of course, he'd listen, but shopping Greene isn't actively part of the plan. But Krall hasn't spoken about Greene in plain English. Instead, he keeps making cagey comments, and his latest will keep the fire fueling the trade rumors simmering.

Nick Krall still won't emphatically deny the Reds' Hunter Greene trade rumors

As we progress throughout hot stove season, you'd expect Krall to take an even more concrete stance on Greene. He did the opposite.

In his most recent comments, Krall said this of Greene, "Guys pitch through a lot of different things. Hunter grinded through the end of the year. It’s really tough to get rid of a top-of-the-rotation starter. I am not ever going to say never, but it’s a really tough thing to actually do.”

There it is. The door is left ajar. Krall rightly acknowledges Greene's standing as a true ace, as his ERAs of 2.75 and 2.76 in 2024 and 2025, respectively, indicate. At only 26, there's room for him to grow even further.

But with that comes a hint of frustration. Greene's injury issues and durability concerns date back to the beginning of his professional career. Right now, he's still affordable, with an $8.33 million salary for 2026, but that number jumps to $15.33 million in 2027 and $16.33 million for 2028.

For a pitcher of his ilk, that's still a good deal, but with the tight budget the Reds have, carrying that money for a pitcher who might only throw 120-ish innings a year is a tough proposition.

The fact of the matter is that the Reds have a surplus of starters and a real need for a power bat in the lineup. While it would feel better to see them deal a moderately priced arm like Brady Singer instead of Greene, the reality is that trading Greene opens up payroll beyond 2026, while also likely fetching a bigger return.

It's a hard thing, but the logic for trading Greene is there, but it's also reasonable to hold on to him. With all of that said, until Krall forcefully shuts the door, the rumors are going to persist.