In a vacuum, I do philosophically agree that pitching is more important than offense. But how would you improve the weaknesses from the club last season if not by dealing from a position of strength and relative depth?
You've seen the market price on center fielders this year and expressed that you
wouldn't meet the terms that the market is demanding. At least on Victorino anyway... and you have to figure Bourn (the other premiere FA CF) would cost even more, if not substantially.
You also
seemed dismayed after the Denard Span trade that the Reds weren't going to be able to improve their team like the Nationals. But even in that trade, the center piece going to the Twins was pitching. Or are highly touted pitching prospects acceptable bait as long as they aren't on the roster?
Short of a windfall of cash even beyond what we've seen in the last year, I don't see how the Reds are going to improve their leadoff situation without trading away pitching in some capacity.
I do not agree that you can make a blanket effort to "not trade pitching," period. Or if you do insist on that, I don't see how you can be upset when the Reds aren't able to land a good leadoff option for a package of Stubbs/Gregorious/Whoever else isn't a pitcher but isn't named Billy Hamilton. That's the state of our farm system.