Not long ago, the Reds found themselves in possession of what looked to be a borderline surplus of infielders. Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Jonathan India, Noelvi Marte, Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all had varying levels big league experience even before Cincinnati signed Jeimer Candelario to a three-year contract. A wide range of opinions on how to best divide the playing time persisted, but the Reds had the makings of a formidable collection of young bats.
Fast forward a few years, and none of that has really panned out. As MLBTR's Anthony Franco explored last month, that group has turned over a fair bit. Marte now patrols the outfield more than the infield. India is in Kansas City, traded last winter in exchange for right-hander Brady Singer. Candelario was released halfway through what has turned out to be a significant misstep of a signing. Encarnacion-Strand has been beset by injury. Steer has bounced all around the diamond, including in the outfield, but he's settled in more at first base. De La Cruz is entrenched at shortstop. McLain, who's struggled in the wake of 2024 shoulder surgery, remains an ongoing question mark. Top prospect Sal Stewart was recently promoted to the majors for his first look, giving them yet another high-upside infield piece to consider.
Even with that prior glut of infielders, the Reds felt compelled to trade for Ke'Bryan Hayes at this year's deadline and infielder/outfielder Gavin Lux last offseason. The overall offense in Cincinnati has been tepid, at best. The Reds, despite playing in perhaps the most homer-friendly park in the sport, rank 23rd in MLB with 146 home runs. They're 13th in runs scored, 16th in batting average and on-base percentage, and 21st in slugging percentage. The offense is ... fine. It's not a glaring deficiency, but it's also not going to turn any heads.
On the other side of the game, however, the Reds have enjoyed a more significant boom. Cincinnati's pitching staff is virtually teeming with enticing young options. Even with Nick Martinez and deadline pickup Zack Littell slated to become free agents, the Reds are deep in rotation arms. The aforementioned Singer is the priciest of the bunch heading into 2026, as he'll be due a raise on his $8.75MM salary, presumably pushing him past $12MM. The rest of the group is generally affordable, if not making at or very near the league minimum.
It's a fine line to walk, of course, as any "surplus" in baseball can dry out in a hurry, but this version of the Reds seems well positioned to flip some of that pitching talent in exchange for some offensive firepower when the offseason rolls around.
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singer,lodolo,greene,abbott,burns,lowder
thats 1 of the best young rotations
each 1 has injury history (mayb not singer)
keep em. reds need the depth
I agree. Reds should keep their young starting pitching. If everyone stays healthy, someone gets moved to the bullpen.
Agreed. Two coming off Tommy John, one other missed the whole year, and three of the current starters have had injury stays and a lot of four to five inning starts. Keep what you have, you’ll most likely need them.
I agree with all of you. Pitching can deteriorate in a hurry. Hitters are cheaper to find than pitchers anyway. As long as they have options why deal them?
Reds won’t bring Nick Martinez back at 21 million and I’d be surprised if Emilio Pagan, Sam Moll or Scott Barlow are on the roster for 2026. I’d say Greene, Lodolo, Abbott, Burns and Singer as starting 5 if all are healthy. Need 2 to 3 veteran arms for the bullpen. I’d keep Santillan, Ashcraft, Suter and go from there
Connor Phillips has filthy stuff. he’ll be there. sugar maxwell also!
If I add to the list would it be Petty?
If anyone thinks this team will go out and get offensive firepower, they haven’t been paying attention. The only trades usually made just further weakens the bullpen and doesn’t really change much.
Time to get someone who knows how to actually build a complete team to Cincinnati and get these kids over the hump before you lose this bunch too.
Reds will post one of the top rotations in the ML next year (Greene, Lodolo, Abbott, Singer, and Burns). Outstanding depth with Lowder, Williamson, Aguiar, and Petty (plus Spiers to return in 2nd half of the year). Reds don’t need to trade pitching this offseason, but can next spring if their starters are healthy and need a position pierce to make their offense work.
Out of curiosity, Just who would that guy be that Castellini would pay for? The guys you’re talking about aren’t in their price range.
Schwarber to Cincinnati would be shocking, officially shocking.
I would target Kyle Stowers in Miami. He won’t be a free agent until 2030. He’ll cost us good prospects but think of the everyday lineup with Kyle batting 4 protecting Elly. Lowder, and Arroyo should get a conversation started. Including Cam Collier might do it.
I doubt you’ll get Stowers for the very reasons you listed. He’s cheap, Controllable and good. Why would the fish trade him?
Does any team really have starting pitching to trade?
Cincinnati is having a great season. Francona is a great manager doing a great job. Definitely manager of the year if they make playoffs. IMO, Yankees should have considered Francona
They are? They’re currently sitting 2 games above .500. With one of the best rotations they’ve had in thirty yeas.
Reds would save $29 million next season by not bringing back Martinez or Pagan. They are stuck with $15 million to pay Candelario to not be here. If they can’t do Schwarber sign Josh Naylor to play 1st base and call Sacramento about Brent Rooker has designated hitter.
Where are the Reds getting 50M$ to pay those 3 offensive players next year.
Sell more vegetables ! 😉
The Reds blew it on Rooker. He’s now an excellent hitter that is a bargain as he signed five years for $60m. The A’s, team and fans, are thrilled to have him..
How did the Reds “blow it” on Rooker? Maybe I slept through that one.
Why are the Reds sacrificing Spencer Steer playing time for Sal Stewart? It’s not like McLain or Hayes are any good either. Steer was having a good September. And Steer can play multiple positions.
The Reds must find offense to move forward; the old saying is you have to trade “good” to get “good”.
AA’s trade value has never been higher…
The Reds missed the boat when there was an opportunity to acquire Brent Rooker. If Soderstrom is, in fact, available please jump on that…
Why don’t we trade front office and keep pitching?
Red Sox will trade Tristan Casas for Andrew Abbott
I actually think they’ll look to add pitching, not trade it away. They have Greene, Lodolo, Abbott, Burns, Singer, and Lowder, but the latter will likely be on a strict innings limit and their depth beyond that 6 isn’t great. I’d guess they’ll add at least one Nick Martinez type (if not just bringing back Martinez himself) that can pitch in the rotation and the bullpen as needed.