The Reds have bolstered their pitching staff in several ways this winter, making a qualifying offer to Nick Martinez (which the righty accepted), acquiring Brady Singer from the Royals and also bringing veteran southpaw Wade Miley back for a second stint as he finishes off the rehab from last April’s Tommy John surgery. Even with those additions, Cincinnati is still on the lookout for additional arms to add to its starting pitching mix, reports FanSided’s Robert Murray (video link). The club has been looking to bring someone in on a minor league deal/non-roster invite to camp, but Murray suggests big league deal for one of the remaining free agent arms is at least possible.
Both left-hander Andrew Abbott and top prospect Rhett Lowder are a bit behind schedule thus far in camp for the Reds. Abbott has been on a slower buildup after his 2024 season was truncated by a shoulder strain. Lowder had some elbow soreness pop up during his offseason throwing last month.
Neither Abbott nor Lowder is believed to be dealing with any kind of serious injury, but having a pair of rotation hopefuls behind schedule isn’t an ideal way to start camp. That’s especially true given the lengthy injury history of fellow starter Nick Lodolo, who dealt with shoulder troubles as a prospect before landing on the 60-day IL due to back and hamstring injuries in his first two MLB seasons in 2022-23. Lodolo avoided the 60-day IL in 2024 but was place on the 15-day IL on four occasions owing to calf, groin and finger injuries.
At present, the Reds’ rotation is fronted by Hunter Greene, with Singer, Martinez and Lodolo all but assured spots. Abbott would be the lead candidate for the other rotation spot if healthy by Opening Day; he posted 138 innings of 3.72 ERA ball last year, pushing his career totals to 247 1/3 innings with a 3.78 ERA, 22.4% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate. The 2021 second-rounder has started 46 games for the Reds over the past two seasons and generally looks to have solidified his place on the starting staff.
Other rotation candidates for the Reds include Graham Ashcraft, Carson Spiers and Lyon Richardson. All three are on the 40-man roster. Ashcraft has had rotation opportunities in three different big league seasons but hasn’t truly cemented himself as a starter in any of them. He’s also coming off a rough 2024 where he was limited to 77 1/3 big league frames due to pain in his right elbow. Spiers has a nice Triple-A track record, but the 27-year-old has been tagged for a 5.64 ERA in 103 2/3 MLB frames. Richardson has been torched in a much smaller MLB sample (18 runs in 17 1/3 innings) but posted decent results in Triple-A last year.
Connor Phillips is also on the 40-man roster, but he’s coming off an 8.01 ERA in 19 Triple-A starts during which he walked more than 15% of his opponents. Top prospect Chase Petty isn’t on the 40-man but held his own in the upper minors last year (4.20 ERA, 22.4 K%, 10.2 BB%). If he can continue at that pace or even improve upon it, he’ll probably make his debut at some point in 2025.
The free agent market has been largely picked over, but veterans Jose Quintana, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and Spencer Turnbull are all unsigned. Old friends Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood are seeking rebound efforts and stand as potential NRI candidates.
Time to go dumpster diving!!!
Want Jordan Montgomery?
If the reds weren’t cheap maybe
How about Chris Paddack? Said he’s ready to throw 200 innings this year!
Montgomery and McCarthy for Candelario and Steer
Turnbull started last season on fire. I honestly can’t imagine the reds adding anyone else thou. Unless there’s a major injury about to be reported
Trade for Castillo; he’s established that he pitches well there.
I think the team that has him has two points of decision
Do they want to trade him away
What would they accept in a trade
Trades ideas are easy to come up with but hard to complete
I think the team you want to acquire him has one decision, and its an easy one. Do they want his $25mm/ year contract? No!
I question the validity of this report. Another starter seems like something they’d only pursue if there are a couple of spring injuries
Agreed. If everyone is healthy, then there’s 7 guys for only 5 spots.
Andrew Abbott and Rhett Lowder are. They say “behind schedule” but it may be a little worse. Better safe than sorry.
the article lists Abbott and Lowder as injured…hopefully not serious though.
Exactly. Ashcroft is the 7th starter. They can afford 2 guys to be unavailable (if that happens) and still be okay.
Translation – we’re trying to sign another couple of depth starters to minor league deals, and want them to feel like they’ve got a solid chance to make the big league rotation out of spring training.
Massive, massive drop off post Ashcraft
Bringing someone else in to get a look is definitely not a bad idea to hedge against Lowder and/or Abbott not being ready. Especially knowing Miley won’t be ready for awhile
I wouldn’t mind Kyle Gibson or Jose Quintana. I doubt Lynn is in their price range though based on a recent interview on Foul Territory. He said he “knows what he’s worth.” I wish they brought back Jacob Junis.
Sounds like abbott & lowder gonna start the yr on the DL.
both are young with lots of potential, dang
MARCUS STROMAN !!!!!
Nope you can keep the trash
Stroman for Candelario. Make it happen!
Lose lose, I love it
That deal makes perfect sense…I recall the Reds were rumored in on him during his last FA appearance, but what he signed for was probably way above the Reds expectations…It’s not like Candy is a terrible player he’s very serviceable and was hurt often enough last season so there is that but the contract is what kills most chances of moving him so a trade for Stroman in that aspect I feel works for both teams shifting the contracts for a better need…with that said I doubt that deal materializes but we can play fantasy GM and roll
with it
Stroman is a cancer no thanks.
That’s a good idea
One is a cancer the other is just mediocre at baseball. Not even close to a good trade.
Yep, I’ve said it multiple times over the offseason. Honestly surprised the trade of Cruz and Trevino didn’t involve these guys as well.
Send one of the extra IF to the Braves for Ian Anderson, who is out of options.
You would be looking at an IF that doesn’t have starter potential.
Spencer Turnbull is probably in their price range. Kyle Gibson is probably a good option and at this point could probably be had on the cheaper side
Hunter, Singer & Martinez are sure spots, beyond that there’s a lot of uncertainty.
Hate to say they should have thought of this long ago as usual (mentioned that in the offseason) but here we are again.
Quintana!
Turnbull can fit in their budget with a tad upside…
There are plenty of options out there but just simply saying you want more depth is doing nothing, they have to put some action into that statement.
Action is not their strong suit.
Quintana or Turnbull! Would love either of those.
Candelario for stroman both wins yankee need a 3B candy hit 20 bombs last year and missed 7 weeks
That’s a reds Loss. Strowman is a cancer
Not a whole lot of pickin’s at 3B right now.
Lynn would be the best of the bunch.
He allows too many homers. I don’t think him pitching in GABP would work out well for the Reds. They need groundball pitchers or really heavy fastballers.
Want Stroman? We’ll eat half.