At the beginning of the 2019 season, the Reds traded Homer Bailey and prospects to the Dodgers for Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, and Kyle Farmer marking the first time the Reds had added significant pieces to their major league roster. That year at the trade deadline, the Reds added Trevor Bauer proving that the Reds were serious about contending. At the beginning of the 2020 season, the Reds added a few more players including, Mike Moustakas, Nick Castellanos, Wade Miley, and Pedro Strop which made them candidates (and favorites for some) to make the playoffs and win the division.