Hot Stove League Review: Reds

Last Hot Stove season, the Reds said **** that to an umpteenth year of the teardown/tank/rebuild from within model and decided to rebuild the old fashioned way, by you know, spending money and trading prospects for veterans.  That model carried over into this year's Hot Stove League.  You know what?  They haven't done a half-bad job of putting together a competitive team!  Here's a summary of their moves:

Free Agents Lost:  Kevin Gausman(RHP), Jose Peraza(IF), Alex Wood(LHP), Jose Iglesias(SS).

Free Agents Signed:  Mike Moustakas(IF- 4 years), Wade Miley(LHP- 2 years), Shogo Akiyama(OF- 3 years), Nick Castellanos(OF- 4 years), Pedro Strop(RHP).

Trades:  Acquired Justin Shafer(RHP) from the Blue Jays for Cash, Acquired Jose DeLeon(RHP) from the Rays for cash, Acquired Travis Jankowski(OF) from the Padres for international cap space.

Rule 5 Draft:  Picked Mark Payton(OF).

Summary:  The Reds already did the heavy lifting for pitching with trades for Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer and needed only a #5 SP.  They added a low cost option in Wade Miley who should be a lot better than Alex Wood was last season.  This was Sabes/Evans type offseason for the Reds who methodically added the missing pieces.  Moustakas will play 2B.  Akiyama should be a premium leadoff batter and take pressure off Nick Senzel.  Castellanos is a huge bat for the middle of he lineup and should be able to play the short RF in Great American Ballpark.  Strop adds depth to the bullpen.  Reds are now loaded enough that it is unlikely Shafer, DeLeon, Jankowski or Payton would have made the team.  They may now have a shot if rosters expand to 29 or 30 players.

One more thought:  What the Reds are doing now tells me once again that any team in MLB can afford to spend big money anytime they decide that's what they want to do.  I love the moves they have made and the team they have put together.  And you know what?  I am going to be rooting for them to succeed because I am so sick of the dogma that before you can rebuild, you have to teardown and tank and you aren't allowed to spend money on players until you are at a certain point the the process.

Grade:  A!