The Reds made small improvements at the margins without giving up any key prospects who were set to help them soon.

With the MLB trade deadline having come and gone, we're all still getting acquainted with the new-look versions of all 30 teams. It's a lot to process.

This was not a playoff team in October. Or a contender in September. This was the bad-bullpen, meh-lineup Nationals playing for nothing in July.