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. 🔍
Former Reds righty Nick Martinez is helping the Rays reach the World Series. After two seasons in Cincinnati, he went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts for Tampa Bay. The Reds passed on re-signing him, and that decision looks costly. 🔍
A speculative idea: if the Reds shop Elly De La Cruz, the Mariners could beat the Dodgers' offer. Seattle has six top-100 prospects, including Kade Anderson, while Joey Votto has floated a package built around LA's Josue De Paula. Nothing is confirmed. 🤔
Reds may add Jay Allen II to the 40-man roster to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft after he hit .280/.374/.483 at Double-A Chattanooga. Leo Balcazar (.239/.329/.364 combined) could be outrighted off the roster, a possibility, not a done deal.
Luke Holman is back on the prospect radar: after tossing 9.0 AFL innings with 1 earned run, 15 K and 1 BB, the 2024 first-rounder says his arm feels great after Tommy John and a groin issue. A healthy 2027 could give the Reds' thin pitching pipeline real depth. 🔧
With Tyler Stephenson likely leaving, the Reds might consider signing former Dodger Ben Rortvedt as a defensive stopgap catcher. While his offensive struggles are notable, he could provide depth until prospect Alfredo Duno is ready. ⚾
Reds prospect Luke Holman is turning heads in the Arizona Fall League, boasting a 1.00 ERA with 15 strikeouts over nine innings. The 23-year-old right-hander shows strong command and potential as a future rotation piece. 🎯
Carlos Jorge dazzled with a stellar defensive play for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, boosting his chances for a Reds roster spot in 2027. With Friedl gone and Dunn injured, Jorge's glove and bat could fill the centerfield void. 🐎
Elly De La Cruz dazzled in 2026, reaching the 30-30 club and improving vs. lefties, but he's still chasing Bobby Witt Jr. for the league's top shortstop crown. De La Cruz's offense soared, yet Witt's all-around game sets the standard. 🔥
JJ Bleday's 2026 season was a tale of two halves. He started strong, even snagging NL Player of the Month in May, but a nosedive in BABIP derailed his momentum. Reds fans might still have a diamond in the rough if his approach holds in 2027. 💎
Rumors swirl as the Red Sox reportedly showed interest in trading for Reds' star Elly De La Cruz. Boston may have included top prospect Franklin Arias in talks. While no deal is confirmed, speculation suggests a potential trade could develop this offseason.
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