Reds young relievers are making one trade deadline decision impossible to ignore

What a difference a month makes. As we were heading towards the end of April, the Cincinnati Reds had the best bullpen in baseball. Now the relief corps ranks 27th with a 4.92 ERA. Given that hot start, the current numbers undersell just how bad the unit has been over the last few weeks.

Cincinnati has suffered a loss with Emilio Pagán hitting the IL, though if you remember, he wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire at the time he got hurt. Pagán is set to undergo another round of tests on his left hamstring, and his timeframe to return is very up in the air. Even when he comes back, given what fans have seen, he might not be the stabilizing force the team needs.

Graham Ashcraft is now on the injured list as well. The Reds' best reliever suffered an acute UCL sprain and was placed on the 60-day IL earlier this week.

The biggest bugaboo driving down the bullpen's performance has been walks. Reds relievers have combined for a 14.3% walk rate, the worst mark in the league. They've been drowning in free passes, but also compounding the issue with home runs, ranking 29th with 1.37 HR/9.

That doesn't mean that there haven't been some standout performers. Unbelievably, Sam Moll has gone from the fans' favorite punching bag to a legitimate performer, leading the unit in ERA with a mark of 2.55.

Brock Burke (3.60 ERA) and Pierce Johnson (3.27 ERA) have been solid as well. But that's just three quality arms, when you need eight to have a functional bullpen. The biggest issues have been with the younger guys players who have struggled to find their way.

Relief help has to be shooting to the top of the Reds' trade deadline shopping list

Former top prospect Connor Phillips has shown electric stuff. But while it looked like the failed starter was finding new life last season as a reliever, he hasn't consistently been able to throw strikes, posting a ghastly 21.1% walk rate. Cincinnati mercifully pulled the ripcord and sent him down to Louisville after 27⅔ frustrating innings.

Behind him, there has been a carousel of youngsters who've failed to latch on. Luis Mey posted a 5.40 ERA with a 17.5% walk rate in 8⅓ innings. Kyle Nicolas had only thrown 7⅓ frames, but a 31% walk rate and 8.25 ERA didn't inspire confidence. Zach Maxwell has barely gotten a shot, but three walks and two homers over 1⅔ innings are very concerning.

While the club cycles through these guys, it's learning more and more that they can't be relied upon. Meanwhile, the veterans who are performing well are best suited for the middle innings, rather than high-leverage work.

With eyes on the postseason, the Reds are going to need to address this soft underbelly and rebalance things so that the productive arms are slotted in the right places. A dominant late-inning reliever would go a long way. Doubling down and bringing in another capable veteran arm who can handle the sixth or the seventh would be even better.

Failing to do so could derail what the Reds are building. The rotation seems to finally be getting back on track as a whole, but that won't matter much if the bullpen can't hold leads. The goal for the club isn't just to make the playoffs this year, but to make some noise once it gets there. Right now, they simply don't have the bullpen to be able to do that. Getting help is imperative.

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