Reds Rumors: Insider floats shocking trade deadline plan fans have been begging for

During the Q&A segment of the latest episode of Fair Territory with MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, a question arose asking which team should go all-in at this year's trade deadline. While it may be shocking to hear, Rosenthal listed the Cincinnati Reds as one of the teams he expects to be most aggressive at this year's MLB trade deadline.

Rosenthal rejected the notion that the Reds, or any team for that matter, will go "all-in" at the deadline. While noting that executives rarely go down that path due to the heighten risk involved, Rosenthal does expect Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall and the Cincinnati front office to be bold ahead of the July 31 deadline.

Rosenthal said, "They've (the Reds) invested a lot in this team already. They've got really good pitching. They've got more pitching coming. And they're a team that seems to be at least one bat away, but a team with some promise, and with Terry Francona...I would expect they're going to do some things."

Reds Rumors: Insider Ken Rosenthal suggests Cincinnati will be aggressive at the MLB trade deadline

This is music to the ears of Reds Country. Now, whether or not Rosenthal's prediction comes true is another story. Reds fans have heard for years that the front office had plans to be aggressive at the trade deadline, only to walk away with the likes of Sam Moll, Luis Cessa, and Mychal Givens.

Rosenthal hit the nail on the head; Cincinnati needs at least one more bat in the middle of the lineup. There are numerous rentals that could help spark Cincinnati's offense. Cedric Mullins and Ryan O'Hearn (Baltimore Orioles), Eugenio Suárez (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox) are all expected to be available when the deadline comes around at the end of next month.

While a bat should certainly be on Krall's shopping list at the deadline, Cincinnati cannot overlook an extra arm or two either. The team's pitching depth has already been tested this season, and the Reds can't afford to head into the final two months of the season without some added reinforcements in the bullpen, and perhaps even the starting rotation.

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