Manager Terry Francona is the latest member of Cincinnati’s organization to downplay the possibility of trading starting pitching. Francona said on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that he wasn’t anticipating a Hunter Greene trade. “I don’t think those things are gonna (happen)…pitching is too hard for us to acquire through free agency…we gotta keep Hunter on the mound,” Francona said in a clip relayed by Chatterbox Sports.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall offered a similar sentiment last month, downplaying the idea that the Reds would move players on the pitching side. Led by Greene, Cincinnati’s starters ranked sixth in the National League in ERA and third in strikeouts. Only the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Braves got more innings from their starting pitchers.
Greene battled a groin injury multiple times last season, but he was dominant when healthy. He set career-best marks in xFIP (3.27) and SIERA (3.06) while throwing harder than ever before. Greene’s heater averaged 99.5 mph in 2025, a 1.9 mph jump from 2024. Among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings, Greene ranked fourth in swinging-strike rate and sixth in K-BB%.
The most notable development for Greene last season was how often he was in the strike zone. He posted a strong 68.6% strike rate and a career-low 6.2% walk rate. Greene had never recorded a season with a strike rate above 65% or a walk rate below 9%. The improved command helped him maintain a lower pitch count and work deeper into games. He notched quality starts in 11 of 19 outings. Greene had 13 quality starts in 2024, but it took him 26 appearances to get there.
If the Reds were to put Greene on the market, he would certainly fetch a handsome return. The 27-year-old signed a six-year, $53MM extension in 2023. The deal includes a $21MM team option for 2029. Greene’s annual salary will rise in each of the next three seasons, but it’ll still be plenty affordable in the final year of the deal, even if the Reds (or another club) decline the team option.
Cincinnati has a stable of controllable starters beyond Greene. Andrew Abbott and Chase Burns have yet to reach arbitration. Nick Lodolo won’t hit free agency until 2028. Youngsters Rhett Lowder and Julian Aguiar only have a year of MLB service time apiece. Brady Singer is the only mainstay nearing free agency, as he’s in his final year of arbitration. The Reds can keep the majority of this group together for the foreseeable future if they want to.
Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images.
Ok Red fans, it looks like you got plenty of SP, what else(or who do your realistically target) do you need to get better?
They need relievers, they need Elly to be consistent, they need McClain and Stephenson and CES and Marte to be healthy and consistent, they need outfielders that can hit
It could simply be talk to increase trade leverage. Of course it’s true that it’s tough for a team like the Reds to acquire free agent pitching but it’s because of that, they should look for younger pitching in return. One more injury and his value plummets. That’s what the Reds can’t afford. Pitching is risky for all but more so for teams with real payroll budgets. What kind of return could they get? I’m guessing two real young arm talents plus.
1. A closer or high leverage late inning right handed relief pitcher.
2. Two more left handed pen pitchers. One a higher leverage type and the other can be a minor league deal type.
3. A left handed power bat to hit cleanup everyday in the lineup.
4. A right handed bat everyday type that can be productive enough to bat 5th or 6th in the lineup.
They have roughly $25 million they can spend in free agency next year to get it. Ideally a lineup that looks like this to go along with our current starting pitching:
1. Friedl center field
2. Marte right field
3. EDLC shortstop
4. .850 ops type left handed free agent ? Position
5. .750 to .800 ops type right handed free agent
6. Steer 1st base/left field
7. Stephenson catcher
8. McLain/Lux 2nd base
9. K Hayes 3rd base if he can ops above .725 and if not Stewart or move Marte back to 3rd and get a right fielder for the 4th or 5th spot and a DH for the other.
Shannon that sounds great but they can’t get all of that for twenty mil, it pains me to say it but they should trade lodolo or Greene for like soderstrom if they can get it. I wouldn’t even worry about getting a closer until near the the deadline if they’re in contention and internal options aren’t working. Maybe even trade singer too for ward like everyone suggests, you can find fifth starter types easier than guys with 30+homer potential.
They made the playoff’s, that’s better then most teams going into the offseason. They should be Happy, I will be happy when the Texas Rangers go back to the playoffs, until then cry my a river!!!! lol
I read 68.6% Strike Rate as Strikeout Rate and nearly fainted… what scouts dream of! Haha
They need better defense, a power hitter (playing in homer central, they need someone who can actually take advantage of it), they need hitters that don’t think .240 is a stellar accomplishment, and they need situational hitting. Hayes at 3rd, and Steer playing 1st helped the defense there (Steer will probably move to the outfield for Stewart to play 1st, which is a step back on defense), but they, McLain, Friedl, and Stevenson need to get back on track with consistency at the plate. Marte’s hitting was better, and needs to continue improving, and Stewart needs to continue progressing like he has been. And… Elly needs to spend more time on baseball skills, and less trying to be a fashion statement. So, they need a power bat, rental utility guys who can hit a bit and play defense. Bullpen help…and all for under the minimum wage.
They’ll trade him…in 2028.
The rumors are most likely large market teams wet dreams.
His arm could be dead by then. Returning value may never be higher. The Rays compete most years by trading one year too soon as compared to one year too late.
It’s no use trying to console a depressing, insufferable, forever-woe-is-me type like “This one belongs to the Reds”
He muted me for that reason.
Why do you think it is that reason when there are so many other perfectly good reasons?
Sorry, I actually have no real problem with you, but I never let a good joke foundation go unbuilt.
The return may not be as great as people think, not until he has a completely injury free year. It hasn’t happened yet.
That could be true in that discussions haven’t been as worthwhile as they expected but it’s still better for some teams to transfer risk. Like I said previously, sometimes it’s better to deal one year too early as compared to too late.
Trade Greene now. Get a home run hitter and/or a center fielder. He’s not the ACE of the team. The ACE would be able to pitch more than 12 games a year. Get rid of him before he completely disintegrates.
“This one belongs to the Reds” is at it again with his big-mouth whining of big-market teams.
For an old career minor-league catcher, he sure cries like a grown baby on MLBTR.