Give Major League Baseball credit. They’ve found away for a lot of teams to stay relevant when they shouldn’t be. In fact, there will probably be less movement around the trade deadline due to the fact many teams are still hanging around, thanks to the addition of the second Wild Card, which was implemented last year.
Consider there are six teams in serious contention for the two Wild Card Spots. Two of those clubs are below .500, with the Pirates and Marlins both posting 37-38 records.The Reds are at .500 (37-37)
The Braves sit third in the standings, but are only one game above .500 and 2.5 games out of a postseason spot. Expand the pool to six games back and the Mets (35-41) and Phillies (34-40) become players.
So, are the Reds buyers are sellers?
Entering Monday, the team was 8 1/2 games out of first place in the Central. That’s a lot of ground to make up with the calendar racing toward July 1. Any chances of a division title look bleak, but Cincinnati is still just three games out of a Wild Card berth.
While many teams may stand pat, the New York Post column believes that IF the Reds do fall out of contention, the organization could unload a starting pitcher. Outside of Homer Bailey, the club has four starters (Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon) who can be free agents after next the 2015 season.
The club has also been linked to Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who can’t be a free agent until 2016, but is second-year arbitration eligible.
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