Cincinnati Reds signal end of off-season activity while Cubs wait for first major move

It's a very rare moment in an off-season where the Cincinnati Reds have declared to be done with their major additions while the Chicago Cubs have yet to make a move of consequence but that is the set of circumstances that has played out this winter.

For the standard thinking of there not being a team in the National League Central that should spend more than the Cubs in an off-season, the Reds have been the exception this year. The Cincinnati Reds have spent over $100MM this off-season while the Cubs have yet to make a move to their Major League roster.

To that end, the Reds may be done with their heavy lifting this off-season.

C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic shared comments from Reds' general manager Nick Krall with the takeaway being that the team may be done with major additions this winter.

On one hand, this could be great news for the Cubs. For much of the off-season, the Cubs and Reds have been linked to the same trade targets. The Reds were believed to be discussing a potential deal with the Cleveland Guardians involving Shane Bieber but the addition of Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez could serve as the upgrades to their rotation.

The Reds also bolstered their lineup with the addition of Jeimer Candelario. There was minimal interest from the Cubs this off-season in terms of bringing Candelario back but his signing with the Reds was unexpected.

There is no doubt that the Reds have improved from where they were at the end of the 2023 season and the moves they've made should complement the streamline of talented prospects that should be reaching the Major League level over the course of the next few seasons. For all the focus that Cubs fans have had on the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals, the Reds could be the team that poses the biggest threat to the North Siders.

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