Try as they might, Cincinnati Reds fans simply cannot escape the rumor cycle surrounding Hunter Greene. At the very least, that's true for good reason. Even in a loaded starting pitching market that features Tarik Skubal, arguably the best pitcher in the world, it's not a stretch to say Greene is the the most valuable trade chip available thanks to his performance and remaining contract.
Unfortunately, there's a hidden cost to all this public gesturing and rumor-mongering. Look no further than what's currently going on in Philadelphia with Bryce Harper. Harper reportedly feels hurt and betrayed by Philadelphia Phillies' president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and his unwillingness to downplay trade speculation, which in turn could lead to Harper looking for a way out of Philly this offseason.