With Major League Baseball’s trade deadline now in the rear-view mirror. The Cincinnati Reds opted to stick with the lineup they built. Showcasing patience in a way that contrasts with other teams.

The Reds took a quiet approach to the trade deadline. Their only addition was relief pitcher San Moll. Acquiring him through a trade with the Oakland Athletics for prospect pitcher Joe Boyle. Pitching was the only pressing need the Reds had going into the deadline. Cincinnati fans hope Moll can add the middle relief help the Reds need. Moll got right to work with the Reds this week. Pitching 2.2 innings in two games to date since joining the Reds.

Cincinnati stood in contrast to several other teams heading to Tuesday’s deadline. The New York Mets opted to dismantle baseball’s most expensive roster. The Mets went into this season with a payroll of roughly $344 million. They are the only MLB team this year with a payroll above $300 million. The Mets went into Friday with a .463 winning percentage. Stuck in fourth place in the National League East. 20 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves.

Shifting to the Reds’ National League Central division. The St. Louis Cardinals are striving to start with a clean slate. Making several trades heading into the deadline. The Cardinals and their fans are facing a transition period. After Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols retired last year. The Cardinals are having a rare lousy season. Ranking last in the NL Central, 11 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, the Reds are trying to stick with a strategy that’s starting to bear fruit. The Reds loaded their farm system through the draft and international signings. Along with adding prospects through trading many star players. After enduring fan frustrations and a 100-loss season last year. The Reds are legitimate contenders this season. Thanks largely to rookies Elly De La Cruz, Andrew Abbott and Matt McLain. Helping the Reds resurge more quickly than many expected.

The Reds’ front office felt no need to tear that up for a blockbuster trade. Opting to see if the roster they built up can go the distance. Given the way the team has performed this summer. Reds fans didn’t want the front office to shake things up either. After fans were demanding Reds owner Bob Castellini sell the team last year. The Reds ownership group had no incentive to anger fans again. By trading players that have quickly become household names in Cincinnati.

This season is showing that there is no singular way to build a successful team. The Mets, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres are showing that big spending franchises don’t always succeed. If the Reds manage to make it to the postseason. They could provide teams with more limited resources with a template for contending. Through building up the farm system, instead of spending a ton on free agents. That strategy ironically worked well for the Yankees in the 1990’s. Succeeding with a roster full of players they drafted like Derek Jeter.

Cincinnati’s front office is hoping their patient approach pays off. Last Friday, the team gave a contract extension to manager David Bell. The extension goes until the end of the 2026 season. Bell has shown he can be an effective manager with a good lineup. Meanwhile, the Reds also want to see how he fares with a relatively young lineup.

The Reds managed to emerge from the all-star break in good shape. Despite losing three out of four games against the Chicago Cubs this week. Falling to second place in the NL Central as a result of that. The Reds are still contenders in early August. Defying the recent trend of the Reds fading into irrelevance by the trade deadline.

Now the Reds face the challenge of finishing the regular season on a strong note. In a tight divisional race between the Reds, the Brewers and the Cubs. The Reds have showcased their contending potential this summer. Whether the Reds win their division or not. The Reds are hoping that their patience pays off for a while.