UPDATE: The Reds will also listen on other players.
More on #Reds: Team will be open-minded on offers for Frazier; Votto, Phillips both have full no-trade protection. More difficult to move.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 11, 2015
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The Cincinnati Reds missed the postseason for the second consecutive season and finished at the bottom of the NL Central. Rumors suggested the team was hesitant to surrender some of their top players before the trade deadline, but that philosophy has changed.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting from the MLB's general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., and he says Cincinnati has shifted its stance heading into 2016.
"The Reds finally are serious, finally are willing to trade closer Aroldis Chapman, right fielder Jay Bruce and possibly other pieces, too," he wrote.
"Owner Bob Castellini is 'on board' with the need for a more extensive retooling, sources say."
Previous rumors indicated Castellini did not want to part ways with some of the team's players this past season, most notably Chapman, who is among the best in the MLB. However, in perhaps the most competitive division in baseball, Castellini likely acknowledged his team had to change course.
The Reds parted ways with Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Marlon Byrd, Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon within the past year and significantly improved their farm system with the returns. They can do the same by moving Chapman, who is a free agent after 2016, and Bruce, who is a free agent after 2017 (assuming his team picks up his bargain $13 million option that year).
Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty (Dick Williams is now the general manager) told Rosenthal that 2016 figures to be a "transition year" as the team hopes to become "stronger and more competitive" in 2017 and 2018.
With that being said, it'll be interesting to see if the rumors more seriously extend beyond Chapman and Bruce. Cincinnati has some valuable players in Billy Hamilton, Todd Frazier, Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart and Eugenio Suarez - all of whom would probably bring back considerable returns in a trade.
Starting with Chapman and Bruce is probably the most prudent decision for the Reds, however, because closers are expendable for a losing team and corner outfield depth is much easier to come across than center field and middle infield depth.
Robert Murray of Baseball Essential reported yesterday that the Reds were also willing to move Phillips and Frazier, but it's unknown how fast they're willing to move on the trade front. Putting so many of their top players on the block could affect their business on Opening Day and that's what many MLB clubs work to avoid.
The Reds are in a difficult spot, and with the offseason still young, don't be surprised by any big moves out of Cincinnati.
