PHOENIX -- Ever since the Reds began their ownership-mandated roster teardown ahead of struggling to a 3-22 record to start the season, they have been viewed as a club primed to make more moves ahead of the Trade Deadline.

The deadline is Aug. 2, and general manager Nick Krall has already been fielding and making calls.

“One way or another, we’ll talk to everybody," Krall said. "You’re going to see where everybody is and see what matches up and see what makes the most sense, and go from there.”

Especially in a thin market for starting pitching, few starting pitchers will likely draw as much interest as Reds starters Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle. Among position players, third baseman Brandon Drury is having a breakout season and could also be an interesting trade chip.

Castillo, the Reds’ ace, delivered seven strong innings and a quality start before the D-backs pounced on reliever Art Warren for four runs in the eighth in a 7-4 loss at Chase Field.

Castillo gave up an RBI double to Alek Thomas and a two-run home run to Geraldo Perdomo in the second inning, but settled in to allow only those three earned runs, four hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Throwing 110 pitches, it was the first time this season that Castillo has completed seven innings.

“Luis is right there at the top of our rotation, tops in the league," Reds manager David Bell said. "In a lot of ways, I feel like we’ve had a guy like that going out every night for us, especially recently the way everyone is pitching. But Luis is definitely one of the guys that leads the way for us.”

Castillo lacked his changeup in his previous two starts, but it was a strong pitch for him vs. Arizona. His four-seam fastball also had zip, and topped at 99.8 mph to strike out Jose Herrera in the seventh inning.

"I felt really good after [Perdomo’s] home run," Castillo said via translator Jorge Merlos. "Everybody gets their strikeouts as a pitcher, and as a hitter you have the ability to hit home runs. All in all, I felt really good afterward."

Over his last six starts, Castillo has been sharp, going 2-3 with a 2.72 ERA and five quality outings. Since his May 9 season debut after returning from a shoulder injury, he has a 3.33 ERA in eight starts. He is making $7.35 million this season, and will be arbitration-eligible for the third and final time this winter. He can be a free agent after the 2023 season.

Mahle, who delivered nine scoreless innings and 12 strikeouts during Tuesday's 5-3 win in 12 innings, has a 1.30 ERA over his last four starts. He's making $5.2 million and like Castillo, has one more chance at arbitration before becoming eligible for free agency after next season.

Signed to a Minor League contract on March 21, Drury made the team as a non-roster player out of camp. He is earning $900,000, but can be a free agent after this season.

Drury slugged the game-tying home run on Wednesday in the top of the top of the eighth inning. The spring roster purge and a rash of injuries to the club created opportunity for Drury, and he has thrived, leading the team with 13 homers and an .858 OPS.

The Reds’ rotation already has rookies Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft, and Nick Lodolo could return from a back injury at the end of the month. It added another prospect in the spring when the Reds acquired lefty prospect Brandon Williamson from the Mariners in the Jesse Winker-Eugenio Suárez trade. Williamson is currently at Double-A Chattanooga, along with another coveted lefty prospect in Andrew Abbott.

On the other hand, Cincinnati lacks Major League-ready talent for its lineup at Triple-A Louisville. The closest-to-ready position player prospect in the organization is shortstop Matt McLain, but he's also at Chattanooga.

"It’s a systematic process," Krall said. "We’ll start having conversations about what makes the most sense for everybody and everybody’s club. Sometimes you call, sometimes they call you. I think it’s more of 'let’s figure out where everybody is,’ so that you know the lay of the land.”

After the club moved Winker, Suárez, Amir Garrett and Sonny Gray in March, Krall was not interested in dealing Castillo or Mahle. But with so few viable starting pitchers on the market, a big offer from a contending club in need of arms could likely be enticing.

“I think we’re reassessing everything right now," Krall said. "We’re trying to figure out what makes the most sense for our roster -- short and long term.”