The Cincinnati Reds have already made one trade for a starting pitcher this offseason, could they make a blockbuster move for an ace?
Cinccinnati opened the offseason with a shock hiring of Terry Francona as manager, bringing the longtime Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians skipper out of retirement to lead their young team.
Then, at the end of November, the Reds made a move to shape up their starting staff by trading second baseman Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Brady Singer.
However, sensing bigger moves are afoot at Great American Ballpark, Fansided's Drew Koch links Cincy to a trade for Chicago White Sox staff ace Garrett Crochet.
ESPN's Jeff Passan notes that Chicago is willing to be patient and let a bidding war develop for their most tradeable asset. However, the Reds have a minor-league system primed to seed the White Sox rebuilding effort with a bumper crop.
Koch projects Cincinnati to package four of their best prospects in order to land Crochet: infielders Sal Stewart and Sammy Stafura, along with pitchers Chase Petty and Lyon Richardson.
Chicago general manager Chris Getz spoke to host Bruce Levine on Chicago's 670 The Score about the White Sox "focusing on position player return" in any trade for Crochet. This proposed deal gives the Southsiders two of Cincinnati's top infield prospects, as well as two arms to lessen the blow of losing a pitcher of Crochet's ilk.