The Reds made the postseason in a 162-game schedule for the first time in 12 years. They looked overmatched against the Dodgers and were swept out of the Wild Card Series. This year was a nice stepping stone, but the Reds need to add a couple bats to pull alongside the true best teams in the National League.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Hunter Greene, RHP: $41MM through 2028 (including buyout of ’29 club option)
- Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B: $36MM through 2029 (including buyout of '30 club option)
- Jose Trevino, C: $11.25MM through 2027 (including buyout of '28 club option)
Other Financial Commitments
- Owe $15MM to released 3B Jeimer Candelario
Option Decisions
- Team, OF Austin Hays hold $12MM mutual option ($1MM buyout)
- Team holds $6.5MM option on RHP Scott Barlow ($1MM buyout)
- Team holds $3MM option on LHP Brent Suter ($250K buyout)
2026 financial commitments: $37.5MM
Total future commitments: $105.5MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Brady Singer (5.156): $11.9MM
- Santiago Espinal (5.149): $2.9MM
- Gavin Lux (5.114): $5MM
- Tyler Stephenson (5.056): $6.4MM
- Ian Gibaut (4.077): $1.5MM
- Sam Moll (4.023): $1.2MM
- Nick Lodolo (4.000): $4.3MM
- Graham Ashcraft (3.130): $1.4MM
- TJ Friedl (3.112): $4.9MM
- Tony Santillan (3.099): $2.4MM
- Spencer Steer (3.035): $4.5MM
- Will Benson (3.003): $1.7MM
- Matt McLain (2.140): $2.6MM
Non-tender candidates: Lux, Espinal, Gibaut, Moll, Benson
Free Agents
The Reds ranked 14th in MLB with 4.42 runs per game. That's an underwhelming mark for a team that plays in one of the league's most favorable hitter's parks. They'll need to improve upon a .245/.315/.391 batting line. The offense should be the offseason priority, but their first couple decisions are in the bullpen.
Cincinnati holds options on relievers Scott Barlow and Brent Suter. It's an easy call to move on from Barlow, who'll receive a $1MM buyout. They'll probably also opt for a $250K buyout on Suter, as the Cincinnati native struggled to a 7.36 ERA after the All-Star Break. Closer Emilio Pagán hits the market following one of the best seasons of his career. Nick Martinez will again be a free agent after playing this year on a $21.05MM qualifying offer salary.
If Pagán walks, the Reds could be in the market for a closer. They're not going to spend at the level it'd take to bring in Edwin Díaz, nor does a splash for Robert Suarez seem advisable given their needs on offense. Old friend Raisel Iglesias will be available on a one or two-year deal at age 36, though he pitched well enough with Atlanta to command an eight-figure salary. Kenley Jansen will sign a decent one-year deal, while Ryan Helsley and Michael Kopech are probably looking for pillow contracts. Devin Williams, Brad Keller, Luke Weaver, Kyle Finnegan and Pagán himself should all be looking at multi-year contracts -- though it'd be a surprise if Pagán commands more than two guaranteed years entering his age-35 season.
Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips are Cincy's top returning leverage arms. Santillan has a little bit of closing experience, while Phillips has shown wipeout stuff with hit-or-miss command. If the Reds find the prices too high on free agent closers, perhaps they'll let Santillan and Phillips compete for the ninth inning while pursuing a setup type like Tyler Rogers or Phil Maton. In any case, they should bring in at least one back-end arm.
Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription
- Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
- Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.
- Remove ads and support our writers.
- Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker
Santana is good enough to close, need to add a solid bat.
I think you mean Santillan. Agree but another good setup guy would really help.
Santillan, yes!
Who?
Please MLBTR: we really, REALLY need a link to where all of these articles are kept for each team.
BobinTexas: Most likely on each team’s page.
At the bottom of each of the articles is a grey box meta-tag for the phrase “2025-26 Offseason Outlook.” This will bring up every one of the articles in this series to date.
My apologies if that isn’t what you’re asking for.
It’s up now.
Reds need to figure out RF and DH.
I would say LF and DH. They have Marte in RF.
Reds are gonna need at least two impact bats to make a run. I know it’s a pipe dream but signing Schwarber and Arraez would do it. And maybe they can get Andujar back on the cheap.
Arraez isn’t impact
The Reds made the postseason in a 162-game schedule for the first time in 12 years. They looked overmatched against the Dodgers and were swept out of the Wild Card Series. This year was a nice stepping stone, but the Reds need to add a couple bats to pull alongside the true best teams in the National League.
Guaranteed Contracts
Hunter Greene, RHP: $41MM through 2028 (including buyout of ’29 club option)
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B: $36MM through 2029 (including buyout of ’30 club option)
Jose Trevino, C: $11.25MM through 2027 (including buyout of ’28 club option)
Other Financial Commitments
Owe $15MM to released 3B Jeimer Candelario
Option Decisions
Team, OF Austin Hays hold $12MM mutual option ($1MM buyout)
Team holds $6.5MM option on RHP Scott Barlow ($1MM buyout)
Team holds $3MM option on LHP Brent Suter ($250K buyout)
2026 financial commitments: $37.5MM
Total future commitments: $105.5MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
Brady Singer (5.156): $11.9MM
Santiago Espinal (5.149): $2.9MM
Gavin Lux (5.114): $5MM
Tyler Stephenson (5.056): $6.4MM
Ian Gibaut (4.077): $1.5MM
Sam Moll (4.023): $1.2MM
Nick Lodolo (4.000): $4.3MM
Graham Ashcraft (3.130): $1.4MM
TJ Friedl (3.112): $4.9MM
Tony Santillan (3.099): $2.4MM
Spencer Steer (3.035): $4.5MM
Will Benson (3.003): $1.7MM
Matt McLain (2.140): $2.6MM
Non-tender candidates: Lux, Espinal, Gibaut, Moll, Benson
Free Agents
Zack Littell, Nick Martinez, Austin Hays, Emilio Pagán, Miguel Andujar, Wade Miley
The Reds ranked 14th in MLB with 4.42 runs per game. That’s an underwhelming mark for a team that plays in one of the league’s most favorable hitter’s parks. They’ll need to improve upon a .245/.315/.391 batting line. The offense should be the offseason priority, but their first couple decisions are in the bullpen.
Cincinnati holds options on relievers Scott Barlow and Brent Suter. It’s an easy call to move on from Barlow, who’ll receive a $1MM buyout. They’ll probably also opt for a $250K buyout on Suter, as the Cincinnati native struggled to a 7.36 ERA after the All-Star Break. Closer Emilio Pagán hits the market following one of the best seasons of his career. Nick Martinez will again be a free agent after playing this year on a $21.05MM qualifying offer salary.
If Pagán walks, the Reds could be in the market for a closer. They’re not going to spend at the level it’d take to bring in Edwin Díaz, nor does a splash for Robert Suarez seem advisable given their needs on offense. Old friend Raisel Iglesias will be available on a one or two-year deal at age 36, though he pitched well enough with Atlanta to command an eight-figure salary. Kenley Jansen will sign a decent one-year deal, while Ryan Helsley and Michael Kopech are probably looking for pillow contracts. Devin Williams, Brad Keller, Luke Weaver, Kyle Finnegan and Pagán himself should all be looking at multi-year contracts — though it’d be a surprise if Pagán commands more than two guaranteed years entering his age-35 season.
Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips are Cincy’s top returning leverage arms. Santillan has a little bit of closing experience, while Phillips has shown wipeout stuff with hit-or-miss command. If the Reds find the prices too high on free agent closers, perhaps they’ll let Santillan and Phillips compete for the ninth inning while pursuing a setup type like Tyler Rogers or Phil Maton. In any case, they should bring in at least one back-end arm.
They pretty much nailed the non-tender and odds are they will not resign any of the free agents. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stephenson and/or Singer moved. If they are not going to give Hinds or Dunn a chance, and it appears they are not, there is no reason to keep them on the 40 either.
The question will be who they add and whether it will meet their real needs. Do they continue bargain basement shopping or do they get serious in competing? The two setup guys they mentioned, both would really be ideal. As far as offense, they need a thumper or preferably two. Period.
If they don’t get serious, look for Tito to go back to playing golf.
$37 million for 2026? Why even bother?
And it will top out around 100 million again. The only reason it ended higher was taking on Hayes and Littell contracts.
They haven’t extended anyone outside of Greene and Trevino of all people, so they will probably let Stevenson walk if he is still around.
Next season De La Cruz and Abbott hits arbitration and the countdown begins on those guys too.
That’s being a Reds fan since 2022, folks.
As an Angels fan, I thought the Reds were a pretty good match to address each other’s needs.
Ward (or Adell) for Singer would be a close one-for-one-ish swap.
That is an interesting idea, although your Angels would have to send something more our way than a one for one swap. Adell grew up down the road in Louisville, top that with his hitting style in GABP, so he would love the trade.
Singer is a head scratcher. He was pretty bad to average early in the season but lit fire towards the end. I think the Reds like his veteran presence. We also may see a career year from him, with his FA year coming up at the end of the season.
Their value is actually pretty even.
Baseball Trade Values has them as even swap mainly due to Adell having two years of control and Singer only one.
Obviously, how they calculate surplus value could be different than how two GM’s may think, but it’s a pretty decent proxy.
I would love that trade, singers durability would be missed but the reds would essentially get two years of adell and one of singer for India who wasn’t great last year and probably won’t get tendered
I would call Brady Singer a non-tender candidate.
If Reds fans are lucky, payroll will be in the $150 mil range. Having a guy who, at best, is going to give up 4 runs-per-9 for an offense that struggles to score that much isn’t worth 9%-10% of your payroll.
Ideally, I’d trade him before December and get something in return from a higher $$$ team that views his salary as a drop in the bucket.
I have always said Singer is most likely of the starts to go for a while now. Just because of $$$ and closer to FA.
There is a zero chance Singer will be non tendered, especially with the way he pitched towards the end of the year.
Keep in mind the Reds paid Nick Martinez almost 22M in 2025, Singer will be in the 11 to 12M range. I will say there is a chance Singer could be traded for a bat.
Exactly. I was talking trade, not non-tender, guess I didn’t clarify that.
You’re good. The guy above you said non tendered.
Leave my boy sody out of these conversations. Let him cook with the A’s.
There are a lot of buffets in Vegas!
Johnnyangel how about this trade, EDLC, Stevenson, Greene for Neto, O’Hoppe and Rada.
Reds should consider Dom Smith for 1st base.
As a strong side platoon, he’d do well in Cincy along with CES as the weak side platoon partner.
Smith showed he can still hit and has a very good glove.
Looks like Steer and/or Stewart handling that. They really need both in the lineup, we’ll see how they try to do that.
Another reason the Ke’Bryan Hayes trade was a head scratcher.
I always laugh when I read these assessments by nothing but numbers fools. They are completely off base from what fans and front offices know to be true about their teams.
Why don’t you enlighten us with your wisdom?