The return of Nick Martinez and the acquisition of Brady Singer have solidified the Reds’ rotation and now have the club looking to upgrade the offense. President of baseball operations Nick Krall tells Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that the Reds “are looking to add hitters” now. And while Krall wouldn’t expressly rule out the addition of another infielder, he did suggest that any new acquisitions would “most likely” be in the outfield. Sheldon’s piece has several quotes from Krall, so Reds fans in particular will want to check it out in full.
The extent to which Reds ownership is willing to increase payroll isn’t yet clear. Reds COO Doug Healy said last month that payroll would be at or above 2024 levels. Cincinnati finished out last year with a $100MM payroll and is currently projected for a $101MM payroll in 2025, per RosterResource. They’ll need to be willing to push that number a good bit higher, find a way to subtract an existing contract (e.g. Jeimer Candelario, Emilio Pagan), or strike a trade for a pre-arbitration bat to further bolster the lineup.
Krall noted that he’s exploring both free agent and trade possibilities as he looks to beef up an outfield mix that currently includes Jake Fraley, TJ Friedl, Spencer Steer, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild, Blake Dunn and Rece Hinds.
Steer can also play multiple infield positions, but the Reds have a crowded — if inexperienced — infield mix as well. Elly De La Cruz is locked in at shortstop. Matt McLain is likely to handle second base on an everyday basis now that India has been traded. Things are less certain at the corners after Candelario struggled in year one of a three-year contract. He’ll be in the mix at both corners, while former top prospect Noelvi Marte will also see time at third and Christian Encarnacion-Strand will see time at first. Marte missed half the season due to a PED suspension and hit terribly upon returning. Encarnacion-Strand was even less impactful in 123 plate appearances before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery.
Given the uncertainty regarding the infield corners, it’s at least possible Steer could eventually see more time in the infield. He was strictly an infielder with the Twins (the organization that drafted him) and only began experimenting in the outfield with the Reds in 2023 due to their glut of infielders.
The type of outfield acquisition the Reds make will in some ways dictate the infield alignment. It seems likely that the target will be a corner bat, both due to a lack of viable center field options on the market and due to the presence of Friedl in center field. Friedl’s defensive grades plummeted last season, though that’s likely attributable to a hamstring injury that shelved him for a month in the summer. Friedl drew plus marks for his glovework and sprint speed in 2023. In 2024, his average sprint speed (as measured by Statcast) fell from 28.3 feet per second (74th percentile of MLB players) to 26.5 ft/sec (26th percentile). Friedl went 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts through his first 26 games of the season. He played 59 games upon returning from the hamstring strain and only attempted four more steals (going 3-for-4). It seems clear his legs weren’t at full strength.
Among the corner options on the market are Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernandez, Tyler O’Neill, Jurickson Profar, Michael Conforto, Max Kepler, Mike Tauchman and old friend Jesse Winker. After Martinez accepted the $21.05MM qualifying offer, it’d be a bit surprising to see Cincinnati go to the likely $20MM+ annual value range needed to sign Hernandez or Santander. The Reds also have a largely right-handed lineup at present, perhaps making a left-handed bat more appealing.
I can’t imagine they’d be after any of the left handed options you listed unless the trade one or two of Fraley, Benson, or Friedl. How about a trade for a slightly used George Springer? I can dream.
Benson struck out in 40% of his plate appearances and has minor league options remaining. If/when the Reds sign an outfielder, I don’t think he’s even on the big league roster. And having three LHH outfielders doesn’t matter as much when they can plug Steer/Fairchild into the outfield over Fraley against southpaws.
Fairchild and Henson both need to not be options. I understand Fairchild hits LHP well but he’s not really a guy that to do much else.
Unless they add someone else who can cover CF, Fairchild makes the team as the backup CF and weak-side corner OF to platoon with Fraley.
Benson has been exposed and won’t make adjustments. Fraley cannot get through a full season without injury. Friedl had a rough year in that regard also.
Some guys that play corner outfield and can play everyday is what they need most. Winker rumors are out there and while he played best there, he doesn’t hit lefties.
Bit unfair to Fraley, he missed a lot the past couple of season because his 5 year old daughter has been under going chemotherapy. I don’t see how he has played as much as he has.
@jd
trust me, George is retiring with us.
he’ll bounce back next season
Reds-Increase payroll? Nah that doesn’t sound right. That’s gotta be wrong. I’ve never heard that before.
They should contact the Rangers about Leody Taveras.
Ya think?
Then you see talk of them being one of the finalists for Crochet. Not that more pitching is a bad thing. The bullpen definitely needs more help on the backend.
The question will be if they actually can close the deal this time.
I still can’t believe the Reds payroll is around 80 million. How can they have a lower payroll than the Brewers? It’s no wonder you’re always harping on your team for being cheap. They most certainly can afford a payroll in the 100 million range…
Their payroll is at $101MM right now.
Ah thank you Steve, I was way off!
Red, if they’re at 101 and have been at 130, then Krall needs to get Bob to open up the pocketbook and fortify the team now that you have a young core to work with.
They have spent 130 million before so more is doable.
I didn’t even know the reds were interested in crochet
Kyle Schwarber would be on my radar.
Unfortunately while Candelario is around, they already have a DH.
Don’t think the Phillies will trade him with a year left but I’ll bet they would listen to the Reds being interested in a reunion with Casty.
Heard they were looking at Winker too. Would be funny if they got that part of the band back together under Tito. They had a good year together Castellanos’ last year in Cincy.
Greene to the Red Sox for Rafaela, Casas, & Crawford?
Greene won’t go anywhere for another three years at least.
LOL! Hunter Greene is almost as untradeable as Elly. Maybe if they are struggling in 2 years.
You do realize Hunter Greene finished 8th in Cy Young voting last year right??
@1999
That’s a terrible trade.
all three of those guys are key pieces to the red Sox, it would be a massive overpay.
What does a fair trade for an ace on a team friendly contract look like to you?
It doesn’t.
@Wire
Not this for sure.
Tell me why the red Sox should part ways with them, and who would be better or viable replacements for those players.
Casas is open for trade since they want to move Devers to 1B.
That’s not true Cleaver this is just speculation. I see no way they can trust Devers at first without first trying him at the position. I would be scared to death to trust Devers and his glove to scoop throws and just generally catch the ball.
Even if it’s not an overpay that trade makes no sense for Boston.
Same for the reds, they can’t afford true market price for top pitching and they need outfielders more than infielders
Sox will not give up those 3 for Greene please that’d be overpay to the max
maybe castellanos comes back along with some cash for a reliever
That is an excellent idea. Phillies could cover maybe $8 million each year.
Send Pagan to Phils. That makes Castellanos a net of $12MM in 2025. Phils pay down about $4MM in 2026 and send Reds a decent prospect. Reds throw in maybe Spiers or Moore back at em.
Hard pass on Castellanos
bring back Scooter Gennett
Casas has the potential to hit 40+ home runs and he plays 1st base. Rafaela is a 5 tool player that can play any position. I can see him excelling at 3rd base for the Reds. Both have all star potential and the Reds need corner infielders.
What if the Red Sox included David Sandlin and / or Garrett Whitlock?
Nope. Try again, this time without Hunter Greene.
Really? I’m a reds fan and you won’t even consider that offer? This mentality is exactly why everyone’s mad about the excellent India trade, attachment over reality.
Greene is a major part of Reds trying to at least make the playoffs. Boston fans and writers need to stop also thinking Casas (or Abreu) is a headliner for Crochet. They are after either Mayer or Campbell as main piece assuming RSox won’t cave on Anthony. Upper tier prospect with no service time burned is what it will take for a team in deep rebuild.
Cws I can’t see Boston caving on Anthony but maybe they move Mayer as the headline piece for Crochet.
I’d trade Mayer the kid is always injured
I could see a Red Sox and Reds match up on a Nick Lodolo for Wilyer Abreu trade. I don’t see the Reds trading Greene but they might be willing to move Lodolo for a young cost controlled outfielder.
Abreu had 125 strikeouts in a little over 400 AB. No way, we already have plenty of guys doing that.
That’s much more reasonable but it would probably take more than lodolo to get abreu
How about addressing the hitting coach position? Has anyone else seen the team strikeout numbers from last year?
Not sure if serious…? Francona just hired Chris Valaika a few weeks ago as the new hitting coach
Taylor Ward for Arroyo, Collier, or Petty?
Depending on what his contract looks like
It’s too bad Rooker isn’t available, and that the white Sox think Luis should net them an arm and a leg
Anyone have a left-handed hitter they want to propose trading to address Cincy’s actual need?
Chill Will Brennan for the Reds # 21 prospect Zach Maxwell.. Brennan is a pre-arbitration LHH that can play all three OF positions (CF/RF is his best), runs a little.. a .270/.310/.700 with four years of club control.. He’s a favorite of Tito..
Thoughts?
Sure
Max Kepler makes alot of sense
Yeah, seems like a Kepler signing makes sense for the Reds. I like him in New York if Soto signs elsewhere. Soto’s bat is (not totally, but somewhat) replaced with infield pop (Adames at 3B + Bellinger at 1B), outfield priority is a left-handed hitter who shores up the defense. Sign a top tier pitcher as well (Burnes/Fried/Flaherty).
C: Wells
1B: Bellinger or Santana
2B: Jazz
SS: Volpe
3B: Adames or Bregman
LF: Tauchman or Kepler
CF: Dominguez
RF: Judge
DH: Stanton
1. Cole
2. Burnes/Fried/Flaherty
3. Rodon
4. Gil
5. Schmidt
– Cortes to the pen
– Stroman traded
Defense gets much better this way. Obviously you can’t replace Soto’s bat, so you would then look to change the emphasis of the team a little bit. Rotation is significantly stronger then as well. Lineup has a lot of length as well, plus Tauchman or Kepler could play well in that stadium with the short right field fence.
Good luck trading Stroman and his contract.
I agree.
I’m also not a Yankees fan, just something I was thinking about.
“I’m also not a Yankees fan”
We can tell because Soto is not in your lineup. Every “Yankees fan” is still holding on to that pipe dream.
I always laugh when fans post hypothetical line ups and rosters.
This whole website is dedicated to news and speculation. Get over yourself.
Especially a Yankees lineup in an article about the Reds.
Lodolo and Connor Phillips for Adolis Garcia. Who says no?
Reds
Soto to Reds. They’re the mystery team we didn’t know was out there.
One can only dream
Cue up Robert Goulet.
* ask your parents if you dont get that reference, kids!
If the Soto can pitch and catch and play all infield positions at the same time. It is a nice dream agreed.
I think Ely should move from SS to RF. He is fabulous athletically, has a rocket arm and should be great there. At SS, he seems to make amazing plays but muffs routine stuff. Francona is old old school and wants a SS that makes the routine plays, routinely.
They really should have made that transition before he hit the bigs. I always said he would end up on the grass, RF or CF.
It’s not like there are not other SS around.
He’s one of the best SS in MLB per every conceivable metric besides errors. Why in the world would you move someone from the most important spot to a corner OF? Barry Larkin had the same number of errors in a season where he was older and played in fewer games. Errors will come down
If they truly believed that, then they wouldn’t have stacked up all those shortstops in the minors (and majors for that matter) and some would have been trade bait.
You could say the same for the third basemen in the organization under different circumstances. They are not sold on Marte obviously.
Nah…. Honestly SS is a common position for many teams to stack up on with prospects because a SS is usually the most athletic player on most teams coming up the ranks and therefore the easiest player to move around the diamond to handle other positions…
As far as the Reds payroll, this is the first year since 2004 I believe, that the Reds are paying zero in deferments. No more Griffey, Arroyo, or Larkin.
Last year was Griffey’s final deferred contract year, so yes indeed.
How bad would hyeseong Kim be in left field
What’s this mustache chumps name?
A cheap option might be to trade for Davis Schneider aka ” the Babe” and hope that he can put together a full season like the first half of last year. Might hit a lot of home runs in that park. I think a triple a pitcher might get him.
If he’d waive his no trade to go “home”, Cubs should trade Ian Happ for Chase Petty
The way he hits in that ballpark, he’d be MVP.
Here we go again with a Profar contract
Santander and Hernandez would be ideal of course. But expect maybe Winker or O’Neill. Could use both but expect either/or.
Give away Candelario & Pagan to anyone who will take their full contracts and then sign Teoscar to about 3yr $72M. Would mash in Great American and be FANTASTIC to have Teoscar be Elly’s and Noelvi’s big brother and help them grow.
Why wouldn’t the team getting Candelario and Pagan just sign Teoscar instead?
Wouldn’t be one trade partner for both guys, but all about positional need. Someone like the A’s or Mariners certainly could find innings for Candelario & maybe they don’t want to tie up a long term OF spot like Teoscar. Teams like the Mets, A’s, and many others need bullpen help and depth. Neither Candy nor Pagan is flat out unplayable at their salary. Point is move their salaries to any team not trying to cut their own payroll and without seeking much of anything in return so the Reds can have financial flexibility to spend where they need more help.
Both are underwater contracts. They are eating quite a bit on both. You suggest “find innings” as if Candelario would be a part time player. He’s due $30M. That’s not a part time contract.
Reds are better off getting value for Candelario by getting him healthy and giving him playing time. He was better than league average with the bat before he played hurt the last couple months.
Toescar is signing with the Dodgers anyway right after Soto signs with the Mets or Red Sox.
As in they’ll explore the concourse snack stand, where they’ll come away with some bananas, baked Lay’s and Vitamin Waters
Breaking News– Reds sign SOTO !!!!!
Wait, it’s Mario Soto, oh okay, sorry.
Serious question, Reds fans. How much of a bang do you really expect them to have in the market this offseason?
I expect them to get real bat in some fashion. Not a waiver wire pick up like Hayes. Happ makes sense, profar, I think Hernanez is out of their budget. I like castellanos too. Obviously Robert. Whoever it is, they need to be able to bat in the top 3 of this lineup
Reds really should be looking at guys like Hays or Kelenic maybe Ryan McMahon instead of Rooker and Luis. Likely cheaper, likely a better bargain and honestly could produce well in GABP.
McLain, CES (forgotten man who raked in 800 upper minors PAs but only and had 120 injury plagued PAs last year) plus full year from Friedl.
If they would add say Conforto and Hays or Grichuk to complement the current OF I would like the possibilities.
If bringing back Martinez and adding Singer is “solidifying the rotation”, the Reds will be battling for 4th place again next season….
All rotation pieces return plus full year of Lowder & Singer, as well as Petty being ready. Definitely under the definition of “solidifying”.
I guess the connotation is subjective….
To me, the Reds solidifying their rotation would be signing Corbin Burnes. Connotation….
Naw their pitching staff is solid
We would be better off if we stuck to one team instead of getting a new one every single year