Reds' 2027 outfield may look a lot like 2026's. Bleday and Myers are likely back in platoon roles, Rodríguez needs a lefty-hitting complement, and Jorge's speed and defense could earn him a spring look. Marte remains the boom-or-bust wildcard. 🎲
Reds rotation needs help with Hunter Greene out for 2027 and Brady Singer possibly leaving. Tanner Bibee, who got just 1/3 of an inning in Cleveland's ALCS, could be a buy-low trade idea, though the Guardians say he's still core.
Xavier Edwards fits the Reds' need for well-rounded players, but the Marlins would reportedly demand a king's ransom. The takeaway: Cincinnati's roster needs a broad overhaul, so emptying the farm for one non-All-Star is too steep a gamble. 💸
Nick Lodolo's rough 2026 (4.97 ERA, 5.70 FIP over 21 starts) dented his trade value, but with one year of control left, the Reds could either bet on a bounce-back or shop him to contenders. Both paths remain open. ⚖️
Eugenio Suárez could return to Cincinnati on a creative, incentive-laden deal, a bargain after his down 2026. He hit 26 homers and posted a 141 wRC+ from August 1 on. The Reds would reportedly need to decline his $16M mutual option first. 💰
Eugenio Suarez's 2026 return to the Reds went sideways: a 33.9% strikeout rate, an oblique strain and August waivers. But a late 46-game run (12 HR, 141 wRC+) and 26 homers suggest he could be a free-agent bargain, with a $16MM mutual option unlikely to be exercised.
Cincinnati Reds relevance here is thin: former Reds pitcher Nick Martinez pitched well for Tampa Bay in a 3-2 World Series Game 1 loss to Milwaukee. The Brewers' bullpen held on. Game 2 is Rasmussen vs. Henderson. Ex-Red, same October stage. ⚾
Reds are being urged to hit reset and copy the Cardinals' rebuild blueprint. The opinion piece notes Bob Castellini reportedly asked "Why aren't we the Brewers?" while Nick Krall cited vetoed trades, and ownership isn't moving on from Krall. 🔧
Royals built a Gold Glove-caliber infield entirely in-house, with all four starters named finalists, while the Reds finished with one of the league's worst defenses. Kansas City's homegrown blueprint offers Cincinnati a model, though player development under Nick Krall has been shaky. 🧤
Defense is where the Reds trail the Brewers most, and it's an area Terry Francona should own. Cincinnati ranked 27th in Defensive Runs Saved (-31) versus Milwaukee's 62, and its .985 fielding percentage trailed the Brewers' .987. Clean baseball remains a work in progress. 🧤
Speculation only: the Reds could pursue Royals 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, which would let Sal Stewart (32 HR, 112 RBI) slide back to third base. Pasquantino's lefty power and 15.8% K rate fit a lineup that struck out a league-worst 25.5%. 🔧
Yerlin Confidan's 106.7 mph homer for Peoria Wednesday was a loud reminder of his power. He's hitting .314 with a 1.025 OPS in the AFL, but a ~50% ground ball rate is the lingering hurdle. 💥
Rays and Brewers open the 2026 World Series with several ex-Reds on their rosters, including Joe Boyle, Gavin Lux (injured all year) and Casey Legumina, plus Jake Bauers in Milwaukee. The piece also floats one likely offseason reunion. 🔄
Dane Myers, 30, brought wall-crashing hustle to center field in his first Reds season, then had left shoulder AC joint cleanup surgery. He could be ready near Spring Training, with his 2027 outfield role still unsettled. 🧱
Carl Willis is staying put as Guardians pitching coach, so he won't be the Reds' answer. Cincinnati still needs a pitching coach and a Director of Pitching for 2027, with Oscar Marin and Matt Tracy among the known interviewees. Back to square one. 🔍
Nick Martinez, an All-Star with the Rays this year (3.10 ERA, 180 innings), hits free agency again. The argument: the Reds should make him their big offseason move, perhaps at roughly two years and $35 million, after missing on a reunion last winter. 🎯
Dalton Rushing is off the Reds' catcher trade board after his UCL tear and nine-month recovery from hybrid internal brace surgery. A suggested pivot: Padres catcher Luis Campusano, who hit .265/.363/.433 in 71 games. 🎯
Matt McLain's bat is running out of runway. He posted a 74 wRC+ over 1,073 PA since the start of 2025, 15th worst among 267 hitters with 600+ PA. He's arbitration-bound again at $2.3M+, so 2027 looks like his last chance to prove he's more than a glove. 🧤
Matt McLain's bat has been the problem: a 74 wRC+ since 2025 ranks last among 118 regulars, and he hit .167 against righties in 2026. The glove and baserunning hold up, but the Reds' infield leaves him little room to use them. 🧤
Reds first baseman Sal Stewart was named The Sporting News' 2026 NL Rookie of the Year. It's a nice honor, but historically that award and the BBWAA's version haven't always agreed, so it may not predict much. 🔍
Follow your team, join the conversation, and never miss a moment.
