The Reds are 48-36 on the season which has them in first place in the N.L. Central, 2 games ahead of the Cardinals. The Reds really only have one weakness and they need to fix it this month. They will likely be on the hunt for righty relief pitchers. Jason Frasor, Kyle Farnsworth, Kerry Wood, Brad Ziegler, Michael Wuertz, David Aardsma, Brian Sanches, Carlos Villanueva, Brandon Lyon, Octavio Dotel, D.J. Carrasco and Chad Qualls. The Reds will have a good chance to hold off the Cardinals if they can get their hands on two of the pitchers named above.

The Reds are set from the left side of the bullpen but if they truly want to compete with the Cardinals in the N.L. Central they are going to need to address the right side of the pen in the trade market, and sooner rather than later. The Reds have the firepower to make smaller deals or bigger ones depending on the quality they get back. If the Reds want to go big they will call the Blue Jays (Jason Frasor), the Astros (Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom) of the Indians (Kerry Wood). If they want to aim smaller they place a call to teams like the White Sox (Tony Pena), the Royals (Kyle Farnsworth), the Pirates (Brendan Donnelly and D.J. Carrasco) or the Padres (Edwin Mujica, Adam Russell or Ryan Webb). Personally I would try to deal with the Astros or the Padres. I think the Padres would give the Reds Mujica, Russell and Webb for Chris Heisey and Chris Dickerson. Despite Heisey’s nice upside this is a deal the Reds would likely have to make as the bullpen would be in much better shape. The Astros would have to send a lot of cash in this deal but they would take Juan Francisco, Dickerson, Micah Owings and Paul Janish for both Lindstrom and Lyon which would give the Reds a powerful pen and a very deep one. The Indians would jump at the chance to deal Kerry Wood and cash to the Reds for Chris Dickerson and Paul Janish or Micah Owings. The Blue Jays would likely require either Juan Francisco or Chris Heisey straight up for Jason Frasor and I’m not so sure he’s worth that price. The cheaper alternatives would come cheaply as the Reds would likely take Chris Dickerson or Micah Owings for both Brendan Donnelly and D.J. Carrasco. Micah Owings would likely be the price for Kyle Farnsworth of the Royals while Tony Pena of the White Sox would require Chris Dickerson and Micah Owings. The Reds have the team to make a legit run at the playoffs so they need to pull the trigger on a trade for bullpen help soon.

The Pirates are looking to unload more salaries this winter and the Reds are looking for a catcher who can hit. So Ryan Doumit of the Pirates would likely be in play if the Reds gave them a call. The Pirates need infielders so I would propose an offer of Adam Rosales, Danny Richar and Drew Sutton to the Pirates for Ryan Doumit and shortstop Brian Bixler. Bixler would then compete with Paul Janish at shortstop unless the Reds wound bring in someone better. But, Doumit would go right into the starting lineup giving the Reds another power bat behind Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto.

The Reds are clearly looking to upgrade at 3B before the trading deadline. They are looking at Scott Rolen and that’s because 26-year old righty swinging Edwin Encarnacion is regressing at the plate. He has played in 40 games this season and he is 26 for 129 (.202 avg, .703 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. If the Reds can get the Blue Jays to take Encarnacion straight up for Scott Rolen of the Blue Jays they have to jump and do it.