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A report from The Athletic raises major questions about who has been making the Cincinnati Reds’ biggest baseball decisions. Nick Kirby and Trace Fowler discuss the reporting from Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans, including the claim that owner Bob Castellini repeatedly blocked trades the Reds’ front office wanted to make. If president of baseball operations Nick Krall could not carry out his preferred plan, how much responsibility should he bear for the team’s results? One exchange sits at the center of the story. According to The Athletic, Bob Castellini asked why the Reds could not operate like the Milwaukee Brewers. Krall reportedly responded with a “laundry list” of trades Castellini had declined to approve. Nick and Trace break down what that exchange suggests about the gap between the strategy the front office wanted to pursue and the decisions ownership was willing to make. The report describes Krall’s interest in building around young talent and trading established players while their value was high. Castellini reportedly resisted that approach, favoring spending on the major-league roster over additional investment in player development. The Athletic also reported that Reds executives had proposed similar moves dating back to the 2010s, only to have Castellini veto them. Nick and Trace discuss whether the organization has been asking the right questions about successful small-market teams while refusing to follow through on the answers. There is also a question of authority. Phil Castellini became the Reds’ president, CEO and representative at owners’ meetings last winter, but Bob retained control of baseball and business operations. According to two ownership sources cited by The Athletic, Bob called other owners to make clear that he was still in charge. Nick and Trace examine what that arrangement means for Krall, general manager Brad Meador and the direction of the franchise heading into 2027. The conversation also covers the report’s account of the Reds’ roster spending. After Cincinnati missed out on Kyle Schwarber, ownership reportedly directed Krall to pursue a power hitter to appease fans, while Krall wanted to re-sign Nick Martinez. The report says the Reds then drew money from amateur and international signing budgets to make room for Gavin Lux in the major-league payroll. Nick and Trace discuss the tradeoffs involved when a team with limited resources shifts money between its current roster and its future talent pipeline. Beyond roster moves, The Athletic reported that four assistant pitching coaches and two minor-league pitching coordinators have left for promotions with other clubs since 2020. What does that turnover mean for continuity in player development? Nick and Trace consider how staffing, instruction and organizational direction fit into the larger picture of the Reds’ struggles. Finally, where does accountability land? Bob and Phil Castellini told The Athletic they plan to retain Krall and Meador, and the report says the family has no intention of selling the Reds. Nick and Trace discuss what changes fans can realistically expect if the same leaders remain in place. They also ask whether Phil might take a different approach to trades and how much decision-making power the front office will actually have. The Reds have young talent worth building around, but the report raises a difficult question: Can the organization commit to a long-term plan if ownership keeps overriding the people hired to execute it? Nick and Trace share their reactions to the reporting, assess what it changes about their view of Krall’s tenure and discuss what Cincinnati must do to avoid repeating the same mistakes
