Giants, Reds' matching trade deadline plans revealed

The NL Wild Card race is open.

The San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds both want in.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal grouped the pair of National League contenders together in his latest breakdown of the trade deadline.

"One rival executive proclaimed the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants should be aggressive buyers," Rosenthal wrote, "saying it's 'open season' on the third NL wild card because of the San Diego Padres' uncertain hold on the position."

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Rosenthal goes into specifics, too.

"The Giants plan to buy, seeking a second baseman and starting pitcher," Rosenthal wrote. "And the Reds are targeting a middle-of-the-order bat and bullpen help."

The trade deadline always has to strike a balance of buyers and sellers.

But a couple more buyers in the National League will make the playoff race exciting down the stretch, which is always good for baseball.

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