From what I understand, the payroll is busting at the seems. I would hate to unload anything of value for Ben Zobrist or even Stanton (because he will not be around long term). I know the Reds are only 1.5 games back, but that feels like a small miracle. In my opinion, they are aways off from a title. I say unload players that have upcoming expiring contracts, and in turn load up on salary flexibility and prospects.
Here are a few semi-recent deadline deals. Some worked out, but some didn't. I would hate to be on the short end of unloading a bunch of super prospects for little return.
July 19, 2000: Texas Rangers trade Esteban Loaiza to the Toronto Blue Jays for Darwin Cubillan and Michael Young.
July 26, 2000: Philadelphia Phillies trade Curt Schilling to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Omar Daal, Nelson Figueroa, Travis Lee and Vicente Padilla.
July 30, 2001: Pittsburgh Pirates trade Jason Schmidt and Jon VanderWal to the San Francisco Giants for Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong.
June 27, 2002: Montreal Expos trade Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Lee Stevens to the Cleveland Indians for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.
July 29, 2002: Philadelphia Phillies trade Scott Rolen and Doug Nickle to the St. Louis Cardinals for Placido Polanco, Mike Timlin and Bud Smith.
July 23, 2003: Pittsburgh Pirates trade Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton to the Chicago Cubs for Jose Hernandez, Matt Bruback and Bobby Hill.
November 14, 2003: San Francisco Giants trade Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser to the Minnesota Twins for A.J. Pierzynski.
June 24, 2004: Kansas City Royals trade Carlos Beltran to the Houston Astros in a three-team deal, which also sent Octavio Dotel from the Astros to the Oakland A’s, Mike Wood and Mark Teahen from the A’s to the Royals and John Buck from the A’s to the Astros.
July 30, 2004: The New York Mets trade Scott Kazmir and Joselo Diaz to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano and Bartolome Fortunato.
July 31, 2004: New York Yankees trade Jose Contreras to the Chicago White Sox for Esteban Loaiza.
http://www.scoresreport.com/2008/07/...last-10-years/