The Big Pod Machine: Approaching the trade deadline
Reds Beat Reporter Gordon Wittenmyer and Sports Reporter Pat Brennan discuss the current state of the Cincinnati Reds
Maybe the trade deadline is background noise for some Cincinnati Reds players, but it’s front-of-mind and a driving force for others.
Nick Martinez, the Reds’ starting pitcher for their series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 25, was the embodiment of that during and after Cincinnati’s 7-2 win against the Rays at Great American Ball Park.
“Obviously, we’re aware of the trade deadline looming and the boys want to play. The boys want to win and we want to make a push,” Martinez said. “We’re certainly playing like it.”
Martinez went on to say the trade deadline was motivation for the 2025 Reds, who stood at 54-50 after Friday’s victory and one game back of the San Diego Padres for the third National League Wild Card spot.
“No one in there (the clubhouse) wants to sell,” Martinez said. “We want to win. We believe in ourselves and I think everyone is bought into (Terry Francona’s) persona and winning. Going out there every game, trying to win the game in front of us. We’re starting to see that… I really want these guys to feel that feeling. Get that feeling of playing really meaningful games. The kind of fire that brings to the clubhouse, yourselves and it’s real fun baseball.”
After five games without a home run, Cincinnati enjoyed two homers and 14 total hits.
Tyler Stephenson hit his eighth home run of 2025 and T.J. Friedl put the game out of reach with his 10th homer of the campaign, a two-run shot, as the Reds took their series opener in front of a crowd of 30,110.
Martinez picked up the win (9-9) for his five innings of two-run baseball.
“To his credit, he (Martinez) competes like crazy,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “I didn’t think he commanded. Because of that it was an elevated pitch count but he gave up two (runs). He didn’t give up six and he gave us a chance to win.”
Friday’s contest commenced a nine-game home stand for Cincinnati. During that period, MLB’s trade deadline will arrive on July 31 at 6 p.m. Cincinnati has the toughest remaining schedule in baseball, and that is highlighted by the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers visiting next week.
“This is the week of baseball where everything goes on,” Stephenson said. “So, yeah, front office is gonna do what they do and just gotta keep playing baseball like we know, control what we can control and whatever happens, happens.”
Stephenson (2-for-4, three RBI) opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field. It was his eighth homer of 2025. That long ball marked the Reds’ first home run since July 18 against the New York Mets.
Cincinnati fell behind at 2-1 in the fourth inning but responded by twice loading the bases in the fourth and reclaiming the lead. Will Benson grounded into a fielder’s choice but beat out a throw to first base to prevent an inning-ending double play. Austin Hays (3-for-5, two runs) also scored on the play.
Noelvi Marte (2-for-4, RBI, one run) then clapped a sharply-hit ball between the Rays’ shortstop and third baseman for a single that scored Gavin Lux. That run proved decisive.
“It’s easy when you look back and think, ‘7-2,'” Francona said. “But it wasn’t (easy).”
The Reds tacked on in the fifth inning. Friedl’s home run installed a 5-2 lead for the Reds and essentially put the game out of reach. Friedl’s 10th home run of 2025 marked a third consecutive season of double-digit home runs for him.
Friedl’s power and finesse were on both on display as his night also featured a bunt base hit in the fourth inning. Friedl aimed his bunt between third baseman Junior Caminero, a starter for the American League in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, and Rays’ pitcher Zack Littell.
Stephenson capped the scoring with a bases-loaded single to left field in the seventh inning. That drove in Hays and Elly De La Cruz (4-for-5, two doubles and one run), and upped the Reds’ advantage to 7-2.
Francona said prior to the game that the trade deadline wasn’t a focus for him, and that he preferred to keep only his current group of players in mind. Stephenson seemed to subscribe to that line of thinking too, but also noted the lift possible additions could be.
“You never know. It’s business. It’s a job. We’re employees,” Stephenson said. “They make decisions but like I said, keep playing how we do, keep playing baseball like we can and try to hold onto this thing. See if we can get some help and be in position to make a push in in September and October.”