5 MLB teams most screwed over without a 2020 season

3. The Cincinnati Reds would have gone all-in for nothing

While most of baseball has either tanked or gone for it, the Cincinnati Reds were a delightful exception. Despite playing in a loaded National League Central the Reds have been aggressive, adding talent to try and win right now.

After a big deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t pan out in 2019, the Reds pivoted to 2020 by making a trade deadline deal for Trevor Bauer. With a year and change left on his deal, Bauer was eyed as the ace for Cincinnati as a buy for this coming season.

Cincinnati also was active in free agency, adding Pedro Strop to bolster their bullpen and signing Nicholas Castellanos to add some pop to their outfield. With the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs taking a step back the door was wide open for the Reds to challenge the St. Louis Cardinals for NL Central supremacy.

That won’t come to be if MLB doesn’t play this season, leaving the Reds out of luck. Bauer is slated to become a free agent and will likely price himself out of Cincinnati’s range, giving the Reds just about two months worth of reward for the risk they took.

No season would be an extremely discouraging turn of events for Cincinnati, which actively tried to compete and would be rewarded with significant losses in the personnel department. The Reds are one of the teams actively rooting for a season of some substance to occur in 2020.