SAN DIEGO -- As massive free-agent spending league-wide dominated the news during this week’s Winter Meetings, the Reds made no significant transactions. In the National League Central, Cincinnati’s division rivals were active -- namely the Cubs and Cardinals.

Reds general manager Nick Krall didn’t have feelings of FOMO, however, and stuck to the club’s long-term mission for its rebuild.

“I’ve said this all along. We have to build our foundation from our Minor Leagues and our player development system. That’s how we’re doing it,” Krall said on Wednesday. “We have to build it maybe a different way than somebody else. We have to focus on what we need to do, as opposed to what everybody else is doing."

Big market clubs were especially flexing their bigger payrolls, with the Yankees leading the way by reportedly agreeing with Aaron Judge on a nine-year contract for a record $360 million. The Reds were never going to jump into the deep end of the free-agent pool, nor was Krall expressing envy for the teams that could.

“I can’t worry about what I don’t have,” Krall said. “I have to focus on what I do well, on what we need to do. That’s what we have to spend our energy on. Me worrying about it and saying, ‘I don’t have this, or somebody else doesn’t have this’ -- I can’t worry about that. I need to focus on who we are, what we are and what we need to do. That’s how we need to spend our time and energy.”

In past offseasons, the Reds left the Winter Meetings without making a big move only to get more done in the days and weeks that follow. Many times, talks about signings or trades began in the team’s suite at the Meetings.

“I feel like we laid groundwork here with a lot of different things. We’ll just see how it plays out,” Krall said.

BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS
More offense: While not being position-specific, Krall has maintained he wants to improve offensive production. There are still position openings at third base and in the outfield.

Starting pitching: Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft form the front of the Cincinnati rotation after completing their rookie years in 2022. Veteran Luis Cessa will compete to return to the group or go back to the bullpen and Connor Overton and prospects like Brandon Williamson will also push for a spot. If there is money available, the team could use a proven innings eater.

Bullpen help: The Reds are banking on having relievers Lucas Sims (back surgery) and Tejay Antone (Tommy John surgery) return healthy, and they avoided arbitration with Buck Farmer on a one-year contract last month. Lefty Reiver Sanmartin emerged nicely as a bullpen option after struggling as a starter. This is another area where depth could be added.

RULE 5 DRAFT
The Reds selected outfielder Blake Sabol from the Pirates’ Triple-A roster on Wednesday, but they soon traded him to the Giants for a player to be named and cash. It was actually done before the Rule 5 Draft started -- assuming Sabol was still available when the Reds made the fourth pick.

In the Triple-A phase, the Reds picked up right-handed pitcher Kyle Glogoski from the Phillies and right-handed pitcher Brooks Crawford from the Giants.

GM’s BOTTOM LINE
When asked about his feeling on the player-development improvements in the organization, Krall pointed to the 2022 arrivals of four key rookie pitchers in Greene, Lodolo and Ashcraft and reliever Alexis Díaz. Catcher Tyler Stephenson and second baseman Jonathan India have become homegrown lineup fixtures.

“I know they had some injuries last year, but I feel really good about the core actually in the big leagues,” Krall said. “Being able to grow younger players to the big leagues is what we need to do.”

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There are still talent gaps on the roster as the club awaits completing the development of top prospects like Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte and Matt McLain.

At the same time, the Reds will need to sell tickets and market their current players amid a rebuild with low expectations for contending heading into 2023.

Fan backlash has picked up along with their impatience for a consistent winner. Krall understands, but he remains disciplined.

“I can tell you from a personal perspective, I'm not the most patient person. I think it's not in our nature to just stand still,” Krall said. “I do think we're moving in the right direction. I feel really good about where we're going and the player development system and how it's grown over the last few years and the players that have come out of it.”