I know, it seems incredibly premature to be talking about the July 31 trade deadline just a week after Opening Day. Right now, the Boston Red Sox are 2-6, while the Seattle Mariners are 7-1. Compared to the rest of the season, practically no baseball has been played yet with still so much left to go. But if you’ll hear me out, I think this year’s deadline may be one of the most important trade deadlines the Reds will go through, and I think it’s crucial to define the goals and expectations for this year’s team and the teams of the future now, so that we can act with clarity and guidance in July.