Cincinnati sits 2 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres, the current holder of the final wild card slot and a game behind San Francisco.

This was not a playoff team in October. Or a contender in September. This was the bad-bullpen, meh-lineup Nationals playing for nothing in July.

The Reds have been a different team when Austin Hays has been healthy. He lengthens out the lineup as a right-handed bat with punch, and he has as good of an idea of what he wants to do at-bat to at-bat as you’ll see.

We are less than a week away from the July 31st MLB trade deadline. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, it’s go time. Entering play on Friday, June 25th, the Cincinnati Reds own a 53-50 record and are right in the thick of the Wild Card race in the National League.

MLB analyst Jim Bowden gave his intel on what the Reds are looking for at the deadline.

Reds trade proposal sends top prospects to Braves for Marcell Ozuna. Explore trade details, analysis, and impact on both teams.

Martinez, who picked up the win in Friday’s 5-2 Reds victory over the Rays, isn’t here because the Reds guaranteed him that he’d get a chance to be a starter all season. In fact, there’s talk about moving Martinez into a hybrid bullpen role when Hunter Greene returns from the injured list.

As the Cincinnati Reds try to claw back into the playoffs, and with the Cleveland Guardians' tumble, they should consider trading for their All-Star outfielder.

The Mets must find answers for their bullpen. Even with lefty Brooks Raley finally on the active roster and right-hander José Buttó (illness) on a rehab assignment (he tossed a scoreless inning for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday), New York should probably add two relievers.