LAS VEGAS — Back in December of 2011, the Cincinnati Reds pushed their chips in for the following season. To land a frontline piece, the Reds dealt three future All-Stars (Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger, plus durable starter Edinson Volquez) for starting pitcher Mat Latos.

The 2012 Reds became the organization’s best team of the last 25 years. Latos posted a WAR of 3.4 in that season, made 33 regular season starts and was a key part of the Reds’ playoff rotation. That season ended when the Reds blew a two-game lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Giants. The following year, the Reds lost the NL Wild Card Game to the Pirates.

Then between 2014 and 2019, the Reds were bad. They needed impact young players like the ones that they traded away for Latos, and

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