After years of challenging the Cardinals’ control of the NL Central, the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers finally accepted the reality of their present circumstances.
After crashing to the bottom of the NL standings, and surveying their barren farm systems, GMs Walt Jocketty (Reds) and Doug Melvin (Brewers) wisely conducted an everything-must-go sale on marketable players before Friday’s MLB trade deadline.
The biggest names on the move were Reds starting pitchers Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, and from the Brewers, outfielders Carlos Gomez and Gerrardo Parra plus starting pitcher Mike Fiers.
The rebuilding began in earnest, with both organizations collecting prospects with the hope of reversing downward trajectories.