"Reds general manager Walt Jocketty has been in meetings this week formulating the budget. It sounds as if the Reds won't be making calls to the agents for top-tier free agents like Jose Reyes or C.J. Wilson.

"We'd love to but we won't be doing anything like that," Jocketty said. "We've got to be more creative."

Since the Reds know they can't come back with the same team and hope for better results, they'll look hard at improving through trades.

Things may heat up a bit next week when Jocketty goes to the general manager meetings in Milwaukee.

The winter meetings are Dec. 5-8 in Dallas.

The biggest needs are a top-of-the-rotation starter and a right-handed hitter to protect Joey Votto in the lineup.

The Reds made plays for right-handers James Shields and Ubaldo Jimenez and outfielder Hunter Pence at the trade deadline in July and came up empty.

The Reds have a surplus of young major league-ready talent. They could offer first baseman Yonder Alonso and pitchers Homer Bailey or Edinson Volquez as part of a package."