Reds could make an uncharacteristic move that strengthens their pitching staff

The likely departure of Brady Singer via free agency and Emilio Pagán’s decision to opt out of his contract has created opportunities up and down the Cincinnati Reds’ pitching staff. It’s a relatively thin market this offseason, so the Reds may need to look in new places for help. Japanese standout Hiromi Itoh fits the bill perfectly.

The right-handed Itoh contrasts most of the arms in Cincinnati’s rotation. He stands just 5-foot-9 and relies more on control than dominance. Importantly, in his six professional seasons with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Itoh has eclipsed 150 innings each year, and he is coming off a season in which he pitched 172⅔ innings in just 26 games. Andrew Abbott led the…