CINCINNATI -- After some suspense all winter, it looks like Spring Training is right around the corner after all. The Reds will soon report to camp in Goodyear, Ariz., and they still have some holes to fill and questions to answer.

Transactions around the Major Leagues are percolating, finally, and I would expect some developments to happen with Cincinnati in the coming days and weeks.

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With that in mind, here are three things I’m thinking about regarding the Reds:

1) My kingdom for a shortstop?

Reds general manager Nick Krall is in an unenviable situation. Cincinnati was unable to land any of the three remaining starting free-agent shortstops last week -- Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons and Marcus Semien. And now, every GM in the Majors with a shortstop to spare can drive up the price for a trade because they know Cincinnati really needs one.

It appears some of the more tradeable shortstops are Tampa Bay’s Willy Adames, Cleveland’s Amed Rosario, Arizona’s Nick Ahmed and Colorado’s Trevor Story. Adames and Story would likely come with a heavy return regardless of the timing. Krall should probably hesitate to give up too much for someone who seemingly would keep the spot warm until Jose Garcia is ready to be a regular. Ahmed likely wouldn’t require a lot to deal, but he has two years and $17.5 million left on his contract.

That leaves Rosario. Cleveland needs an outfielder, and the Reds are brimming with them. This seems like a match. Rosario is still relatively young (25), affordable ($2.1 million salary in 2021) and he has some pop with 15 home runs two seasons ago. This seems like enough of a fit to me.

2) What to do with Doolittle?

When the Reds agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.5 million contract (according to sources) with lefty reliever Sean Doolittle on Tuesday, I was probably a little premature in assuming he would be the new closer. Manager David Bell is often hesitant to declare bullpen roles, and he has been interested in using his best relievers in the highest-leverage situations. That could mean Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett or Lucas Sims -- who were the internal candidates.

Lorenzen has only 10 career saves, including seven in 2019. Garrett caught the fever for closing after he notched the first save of his career in '20. Sims has zero saves since turning pro in '12. Meanwhile, Doolittle is a two-time All-Star with 111 career saves, including his high of 29 in '19 for World Series-winning Washington. His velocity was down last season amid injuries, and he’s been prone to injuries. But if healthy, Doolittle is the best closer candidate Bell will have even if he isn’t his best reliever.

If Lorenzen doesn’t go into the rotation, he could be a high-leverage setup man. Garrett and Sims have already proven they can do that job, and Tejay Antone is also a possibility if he doesn’t start.

At $1.5 million, Doolittle could close for Cincinnati at a considerable discount over predecessor Raisel Iglesias, who was traded to the Angels at a savings of over $9 million.

3) Don’t sweat the small stuff

Krall and the Reds have made a flurry of smaller moves lately -- whether it was trading for Rule 5 Draft shortstop Kyle Holder from the Phillies, or signing outfielder Nicky Delmonico to a Minor League deal on Wednesday. I brace for the social media reaction to these kinds of moves, because they almost always provoke the most negative responses.

Look, I get it. Signing extra relievers or bench options aren’t the sexy moves -- especially when the Cardinals traded for Nolan Arenado and other teams signed all the good shortstops. But I assure you, all 30 clubs make these depth additions every offseason, without fail. Teams need bodies for Spring Training, to fill out rosters in Triple-A and more.

The Reds were one of the most active teams in the previous two offseasons, and acquisitions included Sonny Gray, Yasiel Puig, Nick Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Mike Moustakas and Wade Miley. That underscores that no team that “wins” the offseason is guaranteed a World Series.

Just because Spring Training is nearing, it doesn’t mean there’s a deadline to make transactions. Many have happened after camp started (recent ones are José Iglesias or Derek Dietrich) and others happen near the end of camp (think Scooter Gennett). Don’t assume the worst all the time.