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
That works from a contract perspective, but the DBacks have no need for more infielders. Steer could technically play corner OF but they already have Gurriel, Grichuk and Carroll playing the corners.
Why would the Reds want McCarthy? Does everyone think they should collect an All defense no power team?
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!
Who is $25 million a year ?
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.
This is clearly a sign that Abbott and Lowder are not going to be ready. The Reds are infamous for “shoulder soreness” becoming out until August.
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.
At this point all 3 of those guys are praying for injuries to teams with money to spend.
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.
They DID think of this that’s why they long ago traded for Brady Singer and gave a qualifying offer to Nick Martinez. They further added to their depth by signing Wade Miley to a minor league contract.
And now they’re further considering their SP depth due to the setbacks with Abbott and Lowder. If they lose those two to start the season they still have enough depth. What they’re considering now is what if they have a 3rd or 4th injury?
Quintana!
Every time I have seen Quintana pitch, I have been impressed. He’s not going to win Cy Young or be your top dog, but he goes out every fifth day and does the job.
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.
Nonsense
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.
Stroman is not a cancer. He is a team player and is well liked in the clubhouse.
You don’t even believe that. There’s a reason the Yankees have had zero interest in Strowman.
/s?
Decent FA options left Get one
Lodolo was worrisome today. Looks ro be still throwing too many pitches, why I always see the bullpen in his future. So given the guys that are “behind”, added to the fact Burns hasn’t thrown a pitch yet in pro ball, and this may explain this search more.
If they were smart they’d get Bauer for the league minimum.
That ship has sailed and sunk already. Teams have no interest in the extras that come with the Bauer circus.
Tito would throw him over the CF wall. Not happening.
And yet there is still good ole last time he pitched for the Reds he won the Cy Young and would take league minimum salary Trevor Bauer just awaiting the Japanese season yet again. Yes, there’s sarcasm in that, but if they were serious about truly winning, you have to swallow ego and just make it happen. The media attention alone would at least boost the revenue bottom line for the future. Hell, trade him if you don’t like him after he comes in and produces for 3 months at no cost and keeps his nose clean. Francona was asked a few weeks ago about Bauer and his response was pretty clear, “I coached him in Cleveland.” In other words, he knows how to coach the guy and isn’t afraid to have him on the roster. I know you Bauer haters will rip the idea, but Reds ownership proves we have to go outside the box to try and repeat 1990, or even make a serious run against the Buy a Championship Dodgers who’s future debt is #2, only slightly behind the US Federal debt.
I used to think the same thing. But have you seen his stats pitching in Japan? Yikes.
Just one small correction to this good piece (I love this site, for real): Reds already announced Lyon Richardson will be strictly a relief pitcher moving forward. So, he’s not in the mix to be a starter this year even if injuries arise.