Let’s be real here - the 2022 Cincinnati Reds aren’t going to buy their way to anything. They weren’t even willing to spend what it cost to be what they were.
The payroll cull has seen Nick Castellanos, Tucker Barnhart, Wade Miley, Sonny Gray, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez, and Amir Garrett tossed aside in varying transactions, the Gold Gloves, All Star appearances, Cy Young votes, and Pirate fights too numerous among them to truly count. In their stead, at least in terms of those players expected to make an impact at the big league level this year, are the likes of Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, Mike Minor, and perhaps Brandon Williamson.