How Cincinnati Reds hope to avoid losing NL Central after losing trade deadline to rivals

Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall vowed “we’re leaving no stone unturned” in the days leading up to the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Whatever he may have meant by that, at the end of the big day all it meant was the Reds were left holding a big bag of rocks while the other contenders in the National League Central filled key roster needs for the final two-month stretch drive.

Maybe Krall will come out looking like a genius when Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo lead this team on a torrid September finish after they return from the injured list in the next few weeks. After all, it’s hard to quibble with any of the trades he made last year once ownership forced him into selloff mode before the…