The Cincinnati Reds seemed likelier to make a trade than sign a free agent as the winter meetings headed to Day 3. Meantime, they earned some hardware.

Continue hearing Red Sox are just on the periphery of Garrett Crochet talks and are not aggressors at all, at least to this point. Cincinnati seen as a real threat to land Crochet. Yankees believed to be in, too.

The Reds are considered a "viable candidate" to trade for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com. The Cubs are also considered a realistic candidate.

MLB Winter Meetings are over and what a whirlwind it was. After a slow start, the meetings led to $1.3 billion spent on free agents comprised mostly of the three huge contracts that were each at least $180 million.

With four prospects who ranked among the top 25 in the sport, six in the top 100, and a handful of young big leaguers, the Sox were in position to deal.

After a three-year postseason drought marked by declining fan interest, the Red Sox stuck their heads above the water with his trade.