The Reds made a pair of depth additions to the outfield last week. They brought in glove-first center fielder Dane Myers in a small trade with Miami while signing JJ Bleday to a $1.4MM reclamation deal. Neither player should be locked into everyday roles, but they’ll each compete for playing time alongside TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte. Both acquisitions have a minor league option remaining and can be sent to Triple-A Louisville without going on waivers.
Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic write that the Reds are open to acquiring another outfielder, which they suggest is likelier to come via trade than free agency. Their left field mix is likely to feature Bleday, Gavin Lux and Will Benson — each of whom hit from the left side. Friedl is also a left-handed hitter, leaving Marte and Myers as their top right-handed options. Marte is going to be the everyday right fielder. Myers has good career numbers against left-handed pitching (.297/.360/.456) but has been almost unplayable against righties.
The Reds have some flexibility in their positional alignment. They limited Spencer Steer mostly to first base this year after he suffered a shoulder injury in Spring Training. If they feel better about testing his arm after a healthy offseason, he could pick up a few more starts in left field. Playing Steer in the outfield against left-handed pitching would free more first base at-bats for Sal Stewart, who is coming off a .309/.383/.524 showing in Triple-A. Stewart reached the big leagues late in the season and connected on five home runs in 18 games. He’s one of the organization’s most exciting offensive players, though it remains to be seen if he can handle more than spot starts at a position other than first base or designated hitter.
Acquiring a center fielder could also push Friedl into a full-time left field role. That’s easier said than done given the limited supply of center fielders on the trade market. Houston dangled Jake Meyers for starting pitching before trading Jacob Melton as part of a package to acquire Mike Burrows from Pittsburgh. The White Sox have discussed Luis Robert Jr. with the Reds, among other clubs, but his $20MM salary is a significant obstacle. Even if Chicago might be willing to pay down a portion of the contract, that’d increase their prospect demand for their talented but inconsistent center fielder.
Sammon and Woo report that the Reds have not considered trading Friedl. He’s under arbitration control for three seasons and led the team with a .364 on-base percentage (min. 200 plate appearances). Friedl was at the top of Terry Francona’s batting order for the entire year. He has serviceable range in center field but a below-average arm that would make him a better fit in left if the Reds were able to land a clear upgrade in center.
Cincinnati’s payroll projection sits around $111MM, as estimated by RosterResource. The Reds opened the 2025 season at just under $116MM. President of baseball operations Nick Krall said at the beginning of the offseason that he anticipated a similar number next year.
Reds have great young starting pitchers, but other than Elly De La Cruz, and perhaps Stewart and Friedl, the offense seems lackluster. Marte is uncertain at best, Steer and especially McLain have regressed.
Jays fan here. Since the Reds are budget conscious, what about Joey Loperfido? I love him, could be a budding star with great defence and bat. If we sign Tucker and/or Bichette, there won’t be playing time for him unfortunately.
The reds do need a new Joey, at what cost though
Idk about regressed. Steer has been hurt and looked good 2nd half. They are also going to play Stewart. He’s already better than McLain. Also Marte is a former top prospect. His overall numbers were not impressive last year but he had some really good runs. I think if he and steer put it together, they’ll compete for central
Cruz is very over rated
(Plot twist, they’re really not and they won’t.)
They’re just saying this to appease their fans who are rightfully upset right now, that they are once again doing absolutely nothing to improve.
The highlight of their offseason will be “well we tried for Schwarber and almost got him”, and they’re going to be pointing it out, bringing it up and trying to remind fans of that for years lmao.
Alec Burleson for Rhett Lowder. Nice and simple.
I mean you could even switch burleson with nootbar too. Or burleson and nootbar for lowder plus something else.
Burleson and Nootbaar for Lowder Lux and another prospect.
Just making sure the white Sox still know they’re dumb enough to trade for lrj
Not sure Cincy/WSox will agree on a headline near ready several years controllable starter with Sox picking up 10 out of 20mil owed. Don’t believe they like Petty at all not being good in minors-yet Lowder off injury won’t be given up.
I’m only a fan of this organization from afar, but it’s still enough to make me pull my hair out. This Braintrust will give a three year contract to Jeimer Candelario to play a position they already had filled , they sign Zack Littell a well known gopherball pitcher to pitch in a stadium known to be a bandbox, and then they fail to sign anyone who is able to hit homeruns to take any advantage of the bandbox dimensions (their homerun leader had what 23 homeruns last year?) I mean this kind of mismanagement is borderline criminal and embarrassing for this franchise.
How about Jarren Duran? Reds have talented young g pitching.
They want a front of the rotation pitcher in return, not sure the reds can afford that.
They should take a flier on a reunion with Nick Castellanos. Phils would pay most of his salary and can probably be had for a lottery ticket minor leaguer.
There’s gotta be a taker, no??
How do they intend to add to the outfield? Are they moving the fences back? I wish they would bring back to Polo grounds dimensions.
We will trade cinci brooks baldwin and lenyn sosa and a minir leaguer for bleday