RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesIf this was Hunter Greene’s last start as a Cincinnati Red, it was an understated goodbye on a cloudy, humid July night on the riverfront.
With the days ticking down to hours before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline and the buzz around his name increasing, Greene made his 10th career start against the Pittsburgh Pirates – fifth overall start of this season since returning from the injured list – and then waited after those six innings to learn what uniform he might be wearing for his next start sometime next week.
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Greene’s hometown Los Angeles Dodgers have been mentioned most frequently in the Greene-stakes, largely because of their need for frontline starting pitching with Shohei Ohtani sidelined from pitching, along with their strong farm system and their ability to handle without flinching what’s left on a team-friendly contract ($15 million next year, $16 million in 2028 and a $21 million club option in 2029).
But several teams have been asking about Greene – even before the Reds decided to make him available, assuming they get a high enough return for their most valuable chip as they try to retool for a possible playoff run next year.
Six teams have had scouts at Great American Ballpark during the homestand solely for evaluating trade-deadline targets, and five were still there for the Pirates series: from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers. Among them, only the Mariners were said to be looking at players from both teams for trade-deadline purposes.
The Philadelphia Phillies , who have scouted the Reds for at least the past month, peeled off after the just-concluded Cleveland series (coincidentally, about the time one of their targets, Spencer Steer, landed on the injured list with a wrist injury).
That may not represent even half the teams focusing on Reds targets in an era when many teams have shrunk their scouting departments to rely more on remote/video evaluations.
The Reds, who blew Greene's lead in the eighth but rallied to win 8-7 in his start, have something for everybody’s shopping list.
The Rangers and Rays are among a half-dozen teams looking for catching (see: Tyler Stephenson). The Diamondbacks are looking for lefty bats with openings at first and in the outfield (Nathaniel Lowe). The Mariners are looking for a right-handed bat (maybe third time’s a charm with Eugenio Suarez).
And everybody is looking for pitching with starter Brady Singer sure to be moved, along with two or three relievers, and Greene among the high-priced luxury pitchers available for the right price.
“I’m just trying to have peace and an open mind,” Stephenson said, “and continuing to worry about winning these games. Worrying about it’s not going to help anything.
“I think everybody (in the clubhouse) is in the same (mindset). We have no control over it.”
In fact, trade deadline buzz overshadowed even the pitching matchup between Greene and reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes – who lasted just four innings and allowed five runs. Believe it or not, when the Reds came back to win, it meant they're 3-1 in games this year started by Skenes and Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski.
Reds players who are possible trade chips
The Reds’ trade-chip report for July 31:
Starting pitcher Hunter Greene (2-2, 6.83): Forced to throw 11 extra pitches in the first inning because of a bobble by Matt McLain that prevented an inning-ending double play, Greene gave up two quick ones in the first on a subsequent two-run single. Greene still might have gotten out of the inning unscathed if he hadn’t hesitated covering first on a grounder behind first base just ahead of the run-scoring hit. He retired 15 of 20 after the first.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson: He extended his streak of reaching base to six consecutive plate appearances with a run-scoring double and walk in his first two trips to the plate and after a pair of strikes was then walked intentionally with two out in the eighth. He entered the game as one of just four MLB catchers eight multi-hit games since June 26.
Lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson (4.18 ERA, 25 games): The man who was traded each of the past two trade deadlines entered with a 5-4 lead and was charged with the tying and go-ahead runs after giving up back-to-back one-out singles and exiting.
Righty reliever Pierce Johnson (4.96, 37 games): Taking over for Ferguson, Johnson got the final two outs in the eighth but not before allowing three consecutive two-out, run-scoring singles to blow the lead.
DH/first baseman Nathaniel Lowe: One night after becoming the 11th hitter in the majors this season to produce a walk-off win (grounded to short), Lowe singled twice in four at-bats, and then hit a two-out grounder to third in a three-run eighth that resulted in the winning run scoring on an error when the late-covering second baseman had the ball glance off his glove.
Third baseman/DH Eugenio Suárez: He struck out twice and walked in four trips before giving way to Ke’Bryan Hayes as a defensive replacement in the eighth.
Less than 69 hours remained before Monday’s 6 p.m. deadline when the game ended.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds' Hunter Greene goes 6 in final start before MLB trade deadline
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