Cincinnati Reds NEED To Sign Kyle Schwarber! | Reds Off Season Depth Chart, Trades, MLB News, Rumors

Cincinnati Reds NEED To Sign Kyle Schwarber! | Reds Off Season Depth Chart, Trades, MLB News, Rumors

The 2025 Cincinnati Reds season is over, so it’s time to look ahead. Let’s take a look at the 2026 Cincinnati Reds and what the roster may look like for Nick Crawl and Terry Francona. Welcome in everybody to Chatterbox Reds. I’m Craig Sandlin joined in by Nick Kirby. Nick, how are we doing tonight or today depending on when you’re watching? Doing good. Doing good. Uh, as we’re recording this, last day uh there’ll be more than two baseball games in a day. So, so that’s a little sad, but also have enjoyed a little Arizona Fall League action. Uh Craig on uh on Wednesday, Cam Collier on base three times. 444 on base percentage for Mr. Collier so far down in the Arizona Fall League. Uh oh. Uh oh. Nick, we uh we he’s the last piece of the puzzle to our uh $500 bet with Trace. So, uh, hope he keeps it up and parlays it straight into 2026 and maybe we see Cam Collier in the big leagues, uh, before the end of the year. But look, there’s a lot of decisions that this Reds team has to make. Obviously, Nick and I already did an episode of Chatterbox Reds looking at this offseason calendar, but just a quick recap for you in case you missed that episode. Let’s take a look at what that looks like for the Reds. Free agency begins five days after the World Series ends, sometimes between November 2nd and November 6th. Key free agents for the Cincinnati Reds, these are unre unrestricted free agents. Starting pitcher Nick Martinez, starting pitcher Zack Latell, relief pitcher Ailio Pagan, first baseman, DH whatever you want to call him, Miguel Anduhar, and starting pitcher Wade Miley. Now, contract option decisions have to be made around that same time period, November 6th through the 9th. that date yet to be finalized. But three players stand out with the Cincinnati Reds that have player options in 2026 or mutual or club options. Uh Austin Hayes with the most expensive of those options, $12 million mutual option for Hayes. Scott Barlo a $6.5 million club option. And then Brent Sudter, a $3 million uh club option. And each of those obviously have their own perspective buyout, but we won’t get into all those details in this episode. Make sure you go watch the last one and and you’ll have all of our input on what those decisions may look like. The deadline to protect rule five eligible players falls somewhere around November 19th. Uh Nick went out on a limb and said that he believes Hector Rodriguez and Edwin Aoyo are both locks to be protected from the rule five draft. He also thinks that there’s probably just going to be room on the 40man roster to protect one or two more. Kind of depends on how this offseason goes and what their needs are going to be in terms of who that might be, but certainly room to protect a couple more. Uh and then the non-tender deadline is November 21st. Those are for arbitration eligible players if the Reds aren’t interested in bringing those players back. Nick and I both agree that Santiago Espanol and Ian Jabau are likely to be non-tendered this off seasonason. And then other players like Sam Maul, Gavin Lux also have an opportunity to potentially be uh non-tendered, but both of those would at least carry some level of surprise. So, with that being said, let’s take a look really quick at the 2025 position player death chart for the Cincinnati Reds. Again, this is as it stands right now going into 2026 based on who’s retained and who’s not retained, keeping into account the non-tenders that we just talked about, options that’ll be declined and others. So, let’s start in the outfield where Nick believes that Noel Vi Marte will be your everyday right fielder and T.J. Fredel will be in center field. He believes that Will Benson and Blake Dunn will platoon in left field. Across the infield, of course, T Brian Hayes, Ellie Dea Cruz, Matt Mlan, and Nick has Sal Stewart pencled in as his starting first baseman. Tyler Stevenson, of course, behind the dish. Gavin Lux in Spencer Steer serve as your utility slash wherever needed players. And then your bench, Will Benson and Blake Dunn, obviously, whoever is not starting, Gavin Lux or Spencer Steer, whoever is not starting. And then Jose Trevinho and Nick says CES makes the opening day roster in 2026. There’s obviously some key players at Triple A. Nick believes guys like Hector Rodriguez, Reese Hines, Tyler Callahan, and Edwin Aoyo all have a chance to be uh seen at the major league level in 2026 depending on how everything goes. Now Nick, I I’m on the record that I think Sal Stewart is your first baseman of the future. I think this offseason is going to be key for him. the rest of the infield is set. There’s zero conversation about what happens at second base, shortstop, and third base. But if you’re the Cincinnati Reds, what do you need to see from Sal Stewart to be ready to pencil him in as your starting first baseman come 2026 opening day? Just that he would did did some work in this off seasonason and continues to look like he’s progressing. He doesn’t have to be a a perfect first baseman defensively on opening day 2026, but I saw enough there in in that month to believe that he has the tools and the capability to to man that position. It’s one of the easiest positions defensively. I mean, you know, he he should be able to do. There’s a reason you you put guys like like that look like me uh at first base. Uh Rowdy Tles and and fellas like that. So, yeah, I think South Stewart charity first baseman. Craig, I think a lot of people are going to look at this depth chart and they’re going to be jarred and obviously like this is not what we want the the finished product to be. We need the Reds to add some players, but this is kind of where I think it stands right now. Um, for me, let me start off with what I think are the biggest positives. Okay, right field Novi Marty only played 90 games last year. even if he regresses a little bit offensively, which I don’t really think there’s any necessarily reason to believe that getting him for a full season, you you hope, makes a pretty big advantage, a pretty big uh boost in right field. I think people underestimate the value of Cabrian Hayes over 162 games. Uh Jandelario and Santiago West, I think, combined for nearly minus a full win, like a negative win. Uh, Cab Brian Hayes, I think at his absolute worst, is like a one and a half win player, probably a two- win player. I don’t have to squint too hard to think he makes a little bit of adjustments, plays in a more hitter friendly ballpark, that he could be a 3-in player at third base. But even if he’s only that two- win player, that that Craig, that’s a three- win swing. That that’s a pretty big deal. I think uh Ellie de la Cruz was on pace for a six, seven win season. Obviously, August and September were nightmares. Uh, but I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that that’s the real version of Ellie de la Cruz. Uh, so I think you’re expecting at least a five- win player. You’re at least expecting to be worth maybe one more win than he was last year. Uh, Matt Mlan was terrible at times, still hit 15 home runs, still was worth a win and a half. And then I think Sal Stewart at first base kind of rounds out an infield Craig that I think maybe a lot of people are going to be excited about. But I tell you, offensively and defensively, I think that’s a pretty solid infield. Now, for me, obviously, I I’m a Benson believer. I get that people aren’t. I think if you move him out of the starting lineup, that’s probably better. Um, and then ultimately, he probably ends up getting back in there because of injuries. Um, TJ Fredel is is kind of proved, I think, last year, that he’s an everyday player. The the real thing is is it just it’s hard to see both Gavin Lux and Spencer Steer being kept at nearly $5 million price tags. Lux seems like the one to me, Craig, that that’s probably the most likely to the Reds try to move. But the thing that scares me about Gavin Lux is the guy’s in a contract year. And there’s something about contract years with guys. and and Kevin Lux had a weird season because he wasn’t bad, but he just wasn’t good enough to be uh uh to be a DH. So So Craig, let me round it out by this. I look at this roster and I think a lot of people are going to say go out and get an everyday left fielder. I’m fine with rolling with Will Benson and maybe Spencer Steer if you moved him out there. A steer Benson platoon and left. For me, I think you have to go all out and you have to get a DH. And the name that just screams to me is Kyle Schwarber. And I think a lot of people are going to poo poo that idea. A the Reds will never sign Kyle Schwarber. I don’t know. I saw the projections were maybe $110 million. It’s just how many times are you going to get an opportunity to go out and get maybe the best hitter on the market that actually probably has some interest in coming to Cincinnati that just absolutely fits what you’re looking for that because he’s a little bit older because he’s 32. I think he’s going to be 33 next year. His price tag is not going to be as exorbitant as like a um a it’s going to be a $300 million contract. For me, that’s what it screams to me is go out and just get that DH and then you could kind of maybe find some Austin Hayes type pickups to kind of fill out and round out your roster. Schwarber’s the name to me that that that it it’s clearly screaming and begging for guys like Au Hinos Suarez, Josh Naylor I think could fit that bold that bill as well. But man, I I just I I never I just never see an opportunity that that would be better for the Reds to go out and make the bold move, suck it up a little bit, spend a little bit more money. How many teams, Craig, in baseball could go out and sign one player for $100 million, and it completely flips the entire narrative with the fan base? Sure, Nick, but how many times are we going to have this conversation about things that the Reds could do at some point? We’ve got to be realistic. And I know that this whole purpose of this show is to try and be realistic. So to try and have some offshoot of the Cincinnati Reds going out and sign signing Kyle Schwarber to a four-year $110 million contract is just unrealistic. They’re already going to be playing Jr. Candelario. There’s already uncertainty around a lockout in 2027 and what that could mean for the Cincinnati Reds and beyond. I just find it so unlikely that the Reds are going to expand their payroll to a position where they’re going to go out and sign a guy like Kyle Schwarber. I agree with you. It would be great if the Reds went out and found a hitter who could DH for them every single night and could hit lefties and righties and you wouldn’t have to worry about that position at all. Miguel Andrew kind of fit that role for them at the end of 2026 where he was hitting both sides of the plate very well or both sides of the pitching rubber very well and he would do it at a discount. The problem was he wasn’t bringing the power that obviously Kyle Schwarber would bring especially in great American ballpark. I get that. But Kyle Schwarber is the like antithesis of a Cincinnati Reds move. you know better than I when is the last time the Cincinnati Reds made an offseason signing somewhat of the caliber of Kyle Schwarber? Well, it wouldn’t be the was a a current player, but Homer Bailey was was six years 105 million. So, it was a hundred million dollar deal. Um, but that was a home team discount, right? He was already with the Reds. He was drafted by the Reds. He was brought up by the Reds. Like, I don’t know if it was a necessarily a huge discount. I mean, I feel like it was pretty a fair deal, but that was a $100 million deal. I mean, Mike Mustakis was $64 million. I mean, it’s $30 million more to go from Mike Mustakis to Kyle Schwarber. Again, like I I’m the guy here that I understand why you don’t go out and you spend these $300 million deals. I I can give the Reds somewhat of a pass where I know a lot of this fan base isn’t. I’m not giving them a pass for this. They don’t deserve a pass for this. This is an opportunity to go out and sign one player that absolutely completely transforms your roster, fills the biggest need you have. I I mean, you’re like, the Reds need like this big big uh big power increase. I mean, sure, what are you going to do? Try to go sign three guys to 8 million deals? Just go get the one guy that that probably hits 50 home runs next year and completely flips your offense. And the nice bonus of this is all that bad PR that you constantly get. My this they would completely flip it. It would be insane how different this fan the this fan base would view the Cincinnati Reds if they went out and signed one move. And most teams couldn’t dream of this. The New York Yankees, they go out and sign one play. Look, let’s do the Cubs. They’re better. The Cubs go out and sign Kyle Schwarber is the fan the fan base like, “Okay, what’s next? Who who we signing next? Who we signing next? Who we signing next?” like that that’s not even going to really move the needle for them. For the Reds, I mean, that completely transforms the entire vibe around this team going into 2026. If now is not the time to go sign a $100 million deal, which is not that much in baseball, when is probably never, probably not in our lifetime. Certainly not in the near-term future, and certainly not before the uncertainty of the 2027 lockout looms. I I’m with you and every other Reds fan. I would love to bring home Hamilton’s own Kyle Schwarber. I just don’t know that that’s realistic. And look, there was an article out there today that I shared with you that said that the Reds are a dark horse to land Alonzo. My reaction to that is exactly the same as it is to you saying that the Reds are going to go out and sign Kyle Schwarber. Pete Alonzo obviously the contract’s going to be probably even bigger than Kyle Schwarber is going to be, I would imagine. But two years younger, plays first base. Yeah, it’s going to be a much that’s the kind of deal I understand that the Reds aren’t going to make. I don’t understand a maybe a four year like if someone gives Kyle Schwarber a six-year deal. Okay, I understand it. But if it if it is what we’re expecting, like four years, $100 million. I’m not giving them an excuse. I’m not giving them an out. I’m the guy that constantly gives them an out. I’m not giving him an out for this. Okay. Kyle Schwarber, 32 years old. uh a four-year deal would take him to his year 36 as a DH, he risks that decline towards that 35, 36 year old uh contract. If somebody offers him six years, which again, we have no idea what people are going to offer him if he gets 56, whatever, he’s going to take the security at that point versus a a shorter contract with the Reds just given his age. But I agree with you. But Nick, I want to bring up what I actually see as an even bigger point of concern for me than DH. And I agree with you 100%. This Reds team needs power. And hopefully they can do that in the outfield or at DH position. But where I see a significant hole that I feel like the Reds are going to prioritize this offseason, it’s infield depth. And Edwin Aoyo obviously has been talked about as the future infield uh middle infielder of of depth or whatever it may be. Gavin Lux is certainly not it. Spencer Sears is not going to play middle infield if something were to happen there. I almost feel like the Reds are going to want to have some sort of insurance plan if Matt Mlan doesn’t live up to expectations after riding with him for an entire season in 2025. You look at the AAA depth at the middle infield position and you’re talking about guys like Francisco Orbayz and Levi Jordan and Trey Faline and it just leaves so much to be desired. Edwin Royo obviously was at double A this past year. So the idea of him going to AAA and then to the pros in 2026, he’d have to have a great start of the year to expect to see him at the professional or the major league level in 2026. I think and and you kind of mentioned it, it’s hard to see Spencer Steer and Gavin Lux both on this team in 2026 because they both kind of fit that utility role without a without really having a set position. I could foresee them potentially trading one of those and a minor league piece to somebody to try and get a more stable utility man that they feel could plug in more regularly to be able to give guys like Ellie de la Cruz days off and allow him to DH more often to be able to plug in when Matt Mlan needs a day off. Even somebody that maybe could play first base for Sal Stewart or third base for Key Brian Hayes on days off. Obviously UFC yes on your opening day roster for 2026, but I really think that infield depth is something that the Reds are going to want to prioritize. And for an organization that really seems to be trending towards wanting to prioritize defense, they don’t have that anywhere right now in this organization ready to play in the major league level should an injury or something else happen during spring training. I would expect them to try and address that role at some point this off season, whoever that may be. I know I said on the on the last podcast, Luis Arise feels like such a Red signing. I know he plays primarily first base. He’s played some second base. He doesn’t fit that defensive bill, but he certainly fits the contact bill that the Cincinnati Reds are prioritizing so far. Is there somebody I know you’re not super up to date on all of the free agent middle infielders and utility men, but anybody that stands out to you as somebody who may fit that bill that would fit the Red’s budget in terms of a backup for an infield utility role? I mean, not really anyone that I think would be better than just taking Gavin Lux at $5 million. I mean, you know, good luck signing someone. So maybe they do end up keeping Lux. I I hope if they do keep Lux, they use him in the right role. I hope he is not penciled in as a starter. Um because I just I don’t think he was good enough. Um I think that that maybe you could have a situation with Gavin Lux where you say, “All right, we’re not going to throw you in left field anymore. You are only going to play second base and DH.” And if he only works at second base, maybe he get back to that level where his his his metrics weren’t that bad at second base. Uh, I think that would be the situation where I think Gavin Lux will make the most sense. I do think people are sleeping on Edwin Aoyo. I know he finished the year at DoubleA. I know he got off to a really slow start, but he was coming off a major shoulder injury. Missed all of 2024. I mean, you was a long time ago. You might remember back in it was actually in 2024 uh in spring training. He looked incredible in spring training. He looked like he was a big leager then and then he got hurt right at the end of spring training and it was just a slow slow coming back. I think Edwin Aoyo I don’t I think it is possible that if there was an injury Edwin Royo’s on the opening day roster as like your Santiago Espanol and to be completely honest I think that there I think Edwin Royo could outplay Santiago Espanol. What Santiago Espanol did for the Reds in 2025 and 2026 I don’t think he’s that bad. They sort of 345 on base percentage of doublea got better as the year went on. Um has that that obviously that fielding ability that the Reds are looking for. Um but CES is a big key as well because CES is your third base insurance and they already talked about their CES’s plan is is first base and third base. So that’s a big piece of that as well because I don’t think you want to be moving South Stewart from first base to third base and back and forth. I think you just want to plan him at first base. But I tell you what, CS I didn’t think was that bad at third base. I don’t think you want him there over 162 games, but if Gabrian Hayes has his back flare up and needs a couple weeks off, I think putting CES out there for a couple weeks, I think there’s a potential there. So, I I don’t know. I don’t necessarily think it’s as dire. I’m more interested in either going out and trying to get a legitimate outfielder and more important than anything is just a absolute bonafide DH that you don’t have to to squint that that you know is just going to absolutely rake. Um, and again, Suarez and Naylor I think would also kind of fit the bill there as well. But that’s I think the bare minimum that this team has to do this off seasonason. Let me I I don’t want to get too deep into these conversations because we’ll do a standalone free agent talk uh podcast in the near future, but just because I I brought it up a couple names, I guess, that could become available this off season that may fit the bill for the Reds. If you have an immediate reaction to any of these, great. If you don’t, that’s okay. Uh Willie Castro is an unrestricted free agent this year. He was a three and a half war player this past year in a down year. He’s not going to hit for power, but he’s going to hit 250 to 260 probably and and get on base for you and he can play almost anywhere. The expectation is Azie Alb’s uh is probably has his option picked up by the Braves. It’s only $7 million. He was a two and a half war player this past year. I don’t think he actually hits the uh hits the the wire. Uh the other name is Luis Reno. Um he’s only 29, one and a half war player. He becomes available. And then some more expensive players that I don’t expect to be uh viable options, but guys like Bo Bashette um becomes available. Glabber Torres is a four and a half war player. He was listed as a dark horse for the Cincinnati Reds in the same article uh that I mentioned earlier. Uh, and then Brandon Laauo also has a club option for 2026 that could become available. Uh, if we’re being honest, I don’t know that any of those are perfect fits for what I’m talking about, but do any of those stand out to you as options uh, for depth versus what you have now with Steer or Lux? Not Not really. I don’t I don’t think I would be going out to get any of those guys. I I believe in Matt Mlan. If you don’t believe in Matt Mlan, then sure, I think a lot of those guys would would make sense. the ones that can play second base. Uh, but I think you have to roll the dice. And I’m rolling the dice with Matt Mlan, who again wasn’t wasn’t great, but still had 15 home runs, played great defense, was worth the win and a half. Uh, I think you you you have to put some faith that he can bounce back. U, for me, it’s it’s you you for me, I’d rather them I don’t think that this depth I don’t think that this overall depth chart is as dire as I think a lot of people do. I think it just needs that one massive bat. I I really do. I I I think that they’re I think that I I I Yeah, I just think that’s the piece they’re missing. Um is just that the the guy that can just take a lot of pressure off is I mean, you have a guy like like Schwarber, even Suarez or even Naylor if they’re going right. The the the thing that scares about Suarez and Naylor is I think that their floor is significantly lower than Schwarper. Like Kyle Schwarber, for him to have a bad 2026, something would have to go really, really wrong. For Suarez to have a bad 2026, it could happen. It’s not that far-fetched. Nail alert, same thing. Um, that’s what I think they need. And because the thing that I love is the the depth chart that I was projecting, everyone’s a plus defender. Everyone. Maybe not Tyler Stevenson, but we’re hoping ABS will get him at least close. But he still I mean every single person there outside of maybe South but like South first base like every like Benson Fredo Marte I think is going to be a plus defender by the end of the year. Hayes we know he is. I believe in Ellie Dea Cruz. I will die on that hill. I have a whole another soap box about everyone using minus two outs above average that I’ll save for another time that they’re completely butchering that that that that usage of it. Um, but yeah, I think you could I think there’s a ton of value there defensively. You just need that one big bopper to to bring it all together. Yeah. So, if I’m the Red’s front office, I’m adding three pieces this offseason. One is that infield depth that I just talked about. That may not be a a big signing. It may be somebody that we just look at and say, “Okay, that’s a nice depth piece.” The second one is a DH that you just mentioned. I’m on board with that. I just don’t know that it’ll be Kyle Schwarber. And just being blunt, Nick, I’m I’m going out and I’m signing in another outfielder. I love what I saw out of Noelvie Marte, but I didn’t love the regression that I started to see out of TJ Friedel defensively. And I don’t have 100% confidence yet in Will Benson and Blake Dunn being my being my platoon. Now, I have more confidence, if I’m being honest, in Will Benson today than I do in Blake Dunn, right? So, if I can go out and get a right-handed outfield bat, which is the same conversation we had last offseason, I’m doing that. Now, what those available names look like, that’s where it becomes a little bit difficult, right? Guys like Lordis Guriel Jr. can opt out of their contract. Uh Tyler O’Neal can opt out of his contract. Um Jesse Winker is an unrestricted free agent. Michael Conforto is an unrestricted free agent. Um you know, Trent Gisham is expected to be a free agent. Cedric Mullins. Uh so there are names that could become available uh in 2026. Mike Ystreky is another name that kind of seems to fit what the Reds like to do. Um but he’s a 4.1 war player might be a little bit more expensive than what I would expect the Reds to go out and sign. I know that you’re going to disagree with me, but I think going into 2026 with Blake Dunn pencled in as your opening day right-handed platoon starter is a death nail. And hold on, hold on, hold on. Remember, I’m moving Spencer Steer to left field as my platoon partner with Will Benson when I go get my DH. This was just the depth chart as it stood right now before any moves are made. So, my play I I I still think Blake I actually think I’d put Blake Dun on the roster and I’d actually have him platooning with TJ Fredel as I don’t I don’t believe in Fredel against lefties, but I’m moving but Steer would be my moving out to left field in in my my scenario. This was just to fill the roster as it stands right now. Does that make you feel a little bit better? One way or another, we’re filling a hole, right? And and it it it’s not a knock against Blake Dunn. It’s just I’m not ready to go into 2026 with utmost confidence and ready to put him in that position. Now, I would love to get to spring training and him absolutely blow us out of the water and continue to play like he did in 2025 in Louisville, right? He got very limited option opportunities in Cincinnati during his play there. I’m not holding that against him. He looked really good at Triple A and if he comes into spring and continues to look good, I’m probably giving him another chance in 2026 on the opening day roster. but I’m not ready to make him my everyday guy. Now, that could mean that I bring an older player in on a minor league deal and if it doesn’t work out and Blake Dunn shows me that he can be that guy, we just let the the the vet go. Um, but I’m not I’m not rolling with that being my only option is Spencer Stewart or Blake Dunn. Yeah. Yeah, I think Yeah, absolutely. I agree that that’s fair for sure. Um Yeah. And man, another thing that just that sucks about this is is I just this just makes the way that this season was managed more frustrating because I wish we had a more clearly defined idea of what Will Benson is because we should know right now. I mean, we should have known. He should got a chance to play every day in August and September or every day gets right here to pitching and by the end of the year, we would have s we would have been able to see, okay, was the the exit philosophies and all that. Was that real or was it was it was it not? I believe it was real, but I understand the people that don’t, but they didn’t give him a chance to really prove. And now you just you’re back in the same sort of state of limbo because you you name off all these free agents and I’m just like the best version of Will Benson is better than them. He’s a good defender. He runs faster than any of them. And man, we’ve seen at times this guy can be the NL player of the week. But I understand, as much as it annoys me, I understand the haters out there. I get it. And it just makes what they did the end of the year all the more frustrating because it just didn’t give really enough clarity uh going into the off seasonason. I hope you’re not labeling me as a Will Benson hater. I I am not. I am not. Okay. All right. I agree with you. Look, I thought Will Benson deserved more opportunities than he got last year. Here’s here’s my concern, Nick, as a fan, not as playing Nick Crawl in this dream scenario. My honest concern as a Cincinnati Reds fan is I already saw Terry Francona trade Will Benson away from Cleveland and then he gets to Cincinnati and I just watched him basically kick him out of the dugout even though he was one of if not the best Red’s offensive threats for a good stretch of time period and all of a sudden he just was nobody on this roster. Right. So, as a fan, I’m I’m not convinced that Terry Francona is going to give Will Benson a fair shake again in 2026, right? Like, it’s just he’s established that Will Benson’s not his guy, and it just feels like that’s not going to change at this point. I I don’t want to get into personal stuff. My in high school baseball, I was not the head coach’s guy. I made one mistake and I sat the bench for ever, seemingly forever. It feels like Terry Francona is pulling that same kind of grudge where he found something that Will Benson did that he can punish him for and he’s going to hold on to that grudge for as long as he can. I I’d love to be proven wrong and for Will Benson to give a fair shake in 2026 to be your everyday left-handed platoon bat. Uh whether it be left field, right field, center field, he can play everywhere. That’s the nice part about Will Benson. Um I’m not ready. I don’t believe that Terry Francona is ready to do that. Um, but I would love to see it. And honestly, if you’re not, you should be trading him. I mean, there if if you’re not if you’re not going to give him a a a on a shake, you should trade him because I guarantee there’s a team out there that would give you something. May not be something huge, but there’s a team that’s be like, “Hey, you know what? We’ll give that guy a chance to play 140 games and kind of see what he can do.” Um, but if yeah, if you’re if you’re just going to sit him on the bench for two months, then yeah, he has absolutely no value to you. Now, Nick, there’s one part of this Cincinnati Red’s roster in 2026 that you and I have already agreed upon is the number one priority in terms of depth. Maybe not the number one position, but certainly one of the top priorities for this Red’s front office this off season given our expected departures, and that’s this Red’s bullpen. There is nothing better than October baseball and grilling out, and I use Omaha Stakes for all my grilling needs. And now during their early Black Friday sale event, you can get 50% off sitewide, plus an extra 20% off select favorites. And our listeners get $35 off with promo code Chatterbox. It’s so great to have steaks, hamburgers, and gourmet hot dogs always in my freezer, ready to go. It’s so convenient for me to go online and order. I like the value freezer filler package to stay stocked up. The steaks are perfectly aged, hand cut, and USDA certified tender. The burgers are mouthwatering and grass-fed. But don’t sleep on the gourmet hot dogs. They are seriously the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. Plus, they also carry chicken, pork, seafood, and fantastic desserts. Save big with Omaha Stakes. Visit omahaststakes.com for 50% off sitewide and an extra 20% off select favorites during their early Black Friday sale and for an extra $35 off. Use promo code chatterbox at checkout. Terms apply. Seite for details. That’s 50% off at omahastakess.com. Promo code chatterbox at checkout. You take a look at the Reds bullpen in 2025. We’ll start with the starting rotation. Hunter Green, Nick Liddo, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, and Zack Lutell. Zack Lattell expected to be let go and walk in free agency this off seasonason. From a starting pitching depth and a triple AAA this year, you had Nick Martinez who’s expected to to potentially walk, Wade Miley, who’s expected to walk, and you’re left with guys like Chase Burns, Chase Petty, who struggled, and Carson Spires. Now, from the starting pitching rotation, we take a look at the bullpen, and that’s where it really gets bleak. Nick from the bullpen returning or expected to be on the Red’s roster in 2026. Tony Santion, Graham Ashcraft, Connor Phillips. End of list. That’s it. Almelio Pagan, Ian Jabau, Sam Maul, Brent Sudter, and Scott Barlo. All at risk of being gone in 2026. And if you’re Nick Kirby, all projected to be gone. Now, you have depth. Obviously, we’ve seen multiple pitchers be able to be successful for the Reds in 2025. Guys like Zack Ma Come on, Nick. I’m not done with that slide yet. Dang it. Guys like Zack Maxwell, Luis May, Lion Richardson, Reaver San Martin, Yos Zuluetta, uh, all had certain levels of success in 2025. Guys like Joe Lorsa, Sam Ben Sher, Randy Randy Win. You have Randy Win on I ran out of names. I ran out of names to put I I put that was everyone that pitched this year on that list. I hear you. So that’s the 2025 pitching death chart. Now, now let’s take a look at 2026, right? And this is Nick’s projection based on the current roster of who could be in the Cincinnati Red’s rotation in bullpen. We’ll start with the rotation. Nick, I don’t think there’s as much conversation that needs to be have here, but I think there’s a conversation to be had. Nick is projecting Hunter Green, Nick Lollo, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns, and Brady Singer with Depth at Triple A with Brett Lauder, Brandon Williamson assuming that he’s healthy, Chase Petty, Julian Aguiar assuming that he’s healthy, and Carson Spires who is not expected to be healthy until midway through the season. That rotation, Nick, feels pretty locked in if we’re being honest. If if everyone is healthy, I think your rotation is set. Now, the biggest question for me is, does Rhett Lauder go to the Arizona Fall League, do what we hope he can do, come into spring training, and show that he’s the Rhett Lauder of 2024, or does he have to earn his way back through a stint and beyond? How the Reds manage that those six, right, that’ll be the main question for me. Does one of them move to the bullpen? Do they go with the six-man rotation? Or does one of them just have to start at AAA? If you’re Nick Crawl, if you’re Terry Francona, what are you doing with that starting pitching depth in 2026? Well, as always, it often takes care of itself. Uh, you always have to start with preface that. Um, I I think that the starting pitching depth is okay. Like, I love one through six. I mean, I think sign me up for one through six with about anyone. Uh but we know uh you usually need a lot more than six pitchers to survive a a full full 160 game season and especially more than six pitchers when one of them is Hunter Green. My guy, he’s not made it through a full season yet. Uh has missed significant time the last two years. Nick Loolo had his best year in terms of health, but I think there’s still plenty of questions there. Andrew Abbott has yet to really be fully effective after August in his career. uh Rhett Lauder didn’t pitch the entire year and Chase Burns, the Red’s kid, gloved him all of last season, which I didn’t have a problem with, but that’s just the reality. That’s why I I saw people saying, well, you know, Brady Singer, I mean, that’s a lot of money, 11 million. The Red should should trade him and save that 11 million for a bat. Brady Singer is the one guy, the only guy that you can actually fully count on to take the ball every fifth day and provide that stability. So, I think we we talked about on the last show, but yeah, the keeping Brady Singer, the $11 million projection and arbitration and not even considering trading. I it’s not even a thought for me because the depth I’d almost rather trade maybe one of the higher upside arms that maybe there’s more questions about like a guy like Nicolola if the price is absolutely right. If and I say if if if if to make sure you’re clear there. But yeah, I think that beyond that, I think the Reds should be looking to bring in at least some some quality minor league uh invites to spring training that are starting pitching options, if not going out and trying to find another Wade Miley type. Uh the way Miley thing didn’t work out, but I think it was a good I think it was a uh good idea by the Reds last year to give them opportunities for more depth. Uh because you’re going to always need that. So, yeah, I don’t think the starting pitching depth is dire, but I don’t think it’s as comfortable as maybe probably a lot of this fan base believes it is. Yeah, I I’m with you. One through six seems pretty locked in. Um I don’t I don’t think there’s a whole lot of question there. But to your point, one of those higher upside arms, whether it’s Nicolola, whether it’s Andrew Abbott, if you are concerned about his ability to go a full season, he’s obviously worn out each of the the last couple seasons towards the end. Maybe you don’t think that he can get to a point where he can give you 30 plus starts a year um consistently at the top of his game. Uh but we’re sitting here made 29 starts in 2025. So, uh, I don’t I don’t want to discount that by any means, but is that as as as high as his market is going to be? Like, will Andrew Abbott ever be better? Right? And maybe that’s a maybe that’s a trade bait opportunity for you. Uh, for sure. But I I agree with you. Beyond that, there’s question marks, right? And and that’s the biggest thing. I think that if everybody was healthy and you came into 2026 with a healthy starting rotation depth, I think you’d be okay, right? You have guys like Brandon Williamson who has pitched for you in the past and pitched well. You have guys like Julian Aguiar and Carson Spires. Carson Spires pitched pretty well in the starting rotation when he was given opportunities. So I I think realistically if everybody was healthy, you have seven guys you feel pretty good about. um eight or nine guys that you were like, “All right, if we had to, uh we’d be okay, but certainly not to a to a long-term solution.” Um and then after that, it kind of gets difficult. And don’t discount Chase Petty. I think he’s the whipping boy right now. He had a very bad season, but he reminds me a lot right now of Brandon Williamson. When the Reds acquired Brandon Williamson, everyone, and myself included, thought this guy was an absolute bust. He was atrocious, but he figured it out. And he ended up having a really good run with the Reds before he got injured. So, don’t discount Chase Petty. I know Fangrass still had him like a top 60 prospect, which I think is a little crazy if I’m being hon. I think it’s crazy. But the fact that there’s still a publication that still has him ranked that high, don’t discount him. I’m not counting on him, but don’t discount him because I I think that there’s a chance he he has to I mean, the guy has to have a fire lit in him this off season and he’s still incredibly incredibly young. So, I’m just saying yes, he should be at the absolute bottom of that depth chart, but don’t don’t think that there’s no potential for him to provide value for the Reds in in 2026. And ultimately, he may Craig, he may get the spring trading, not look good. He may go to Triple A in April and not look good. And the Reds may say, you know what, we’ll do the same thing we did with Connor Phillips. He certainly has the capability of of of providing value there. Which kind of leads us to the next point, which is the thing that is way more dire than I thought it was uh before I started putting these lists together. Yeah. Just real quick comment on uh Brandon Williamson and and Chase Petty since you brought it up. It kind of interesting paths to your point, right? So, um, the the difference for me, Nick, is that Brandon Williamson was extremely good at the lower levels and then as he progressed, he got he he got, you know, it was difficult for him at Triple A, but then he came back a year later, figured it out, and that’s when we really saw that shift was after he came back. Was a lot older though. Was a lot older though. went to college. Chase Petty was directly out of high school. He was at those levels at at a much higher and more experienced age. I will say that though. Um, sure. Okay. I I mean, I I guess I’ll give that to you. He’s five years older than Chase Petty. I’m not really sure that it’s that much difference, but maybe. Um, Chase Petty in 2024 was great. including uh limited starts at Triple A and then he came back in 2025 and he was not great. And so that’s my my my difficulty in kind of getting to your level where we got to figure out what happened, right? Like how did we go from a guy who had a 1.80 80 erra in two starts at AAA in 2024 to a guy who had a 6.39 erra in 26 starts in 2025. And that’s the question for Derrick Johnson. That’s the question for this pitching staff. I have a ton of respect for Derrick Johnson and what he’s been able to do. So, I’m with you. I’m not gonna write him off, but I’m not I’m not gonna count on him for anything in 2026. No, I don’t I don’t think you should count on him. I just think that he I I still like him at at the back end of that death chart because I do think he’s a guy that has the potential to get the triple A and work on it. And yeah, I mean, just to my last point, Brandon Williamson, he made his big league debut with the Reds, he was 25. Like Chase Petty was 22. So, I mean, he’s he’s quite a bit bit behind him in that regard. So, um yeah, I hope he has a good off season. Um I think there’s still something left in the tank and and I hope he corrects it. Yeah. Now, Nick, the one position group that, as you mentioned, is looking quite dire for 2026 is the Red’s bullpen. Yes, they’re bringing back guys like Tony Santion and Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips who looked great at the end of the year, but they’re also beyond that going to have to rely on guys like Zack Maxwell who they didn’t trust down the stretch of 2025. Luis May, who we didn’t see at the end of 2025 at the major league level. Sam Maul, who they didn’t trust enough to bring back to the major league level. Yazuluetta, who we only saw at the major league level maybe one time in 2025. and Lion Richardson. There are other pitchers obviously from a depth depth perspective that we’ll keep our eyes on. Jose Franco is a guy we haven’t seen at the MLB level yet, but is is looked good in in 2025. Hunter Parks, TJ Anton as he comes back from his third Tommy John surgery. Reaver San Martin, Joel Valdez, Jose Akuna, uh Javi Rivera, and Trevor Consul. All as depth pieces that you could be looking for in 2026. Consul is currently at the Arizona Fall League. Uh so he’ll have a extended opportunity to work on his stuff here at the end of 2025. But this is a Red’s bullpen that if they don’t bring back some of those key losses from 2025, Nick, is going to have to do a lot of work in order to get back to the level that we saw them at in 2025. Yeah. When I started putting this list together, I thought, well, you know, maybe that that that uh Scott Barlo option, which is basically a net of of 5.5 million because you have to pay him a million dollar buyout if you don’t kind of think there’s maybe a real chance that they do just decide to bring him back. And you know, Ameilio Pagan, those comments today that he’d love to come back to the Reds. I kind of say, “Ah, sure.” Um, maybe they actually do make a run at him just because like it is it is kind of that dire. Um, you do have a lot of starting pitching options of guys that that have been starters in the minors that I think could transition to relievers and maybe be fasttracked a little bit towards being effective. Obviously, Brandon Williamson, Chase Petty, uh, fit that mold. um probably a lot faster, but guys like Jose Franco, um Jose Akuna, Jav Rivera, both those guys were injured, but very talented um starting pitchers, those guys could maybe be transition to relievers uh to kind of fasttrack um and and help your your bullpen. But yeah, Craig, this this uh the Reds bullpin did a really good job in 2025, certainly with kind of the expectations and the amount of resources pumped into it, but the the Reds did blow 40 games. Now, some of that was the fact this offense could never really come back until late in the season. Like, there was just no chance of coming back. And when you can’t come back and kind of seesaw games, you’re going to naturally blow more games. Um, but I think the MLB average was 35. So it it kind of felt felt like you had your bullpen, your 2025 bullpen. You almost needed to retain that and then still kind of improve that a little bit. So that’s where I do think there is a a big challenge this off season. But what makes it different than like me saying, “Well, just go pay Kyle Schwarber, just go pay Josh Naylor.” I don’t feel the same, Craig, about bullpens. I’m not going out and throwing $15 million as a reliever because it’s so easy to just completely throw that down the toilet. I mean, just look at Rogers last year. He was a $6 million guy that I mean had incredible career numbers, but relievers are just so volatile. So, this is where you have to draft and develop uh as a small market team to survive. And that’s why the Brewers are so good because they they never have a bad bullpen. It doesn’t matter if they lose half their their team, they never have a bad bullpen. they continue to find ways to do it. So, that’s going to be a challenge this offseason. It’ll be kind of an interesting one to see a how much resources they put into it and then b how many starters do they maybe try to throw out there um into reliever roles. Yeah, the one thing about relief pitchers is that the the market is always flush with options, right? I mean, there are always a ton of names that are available, but let me throw one name at you, Nick, that we don’t have on this list that’s coming from the Reds franchise. Buck Farmer pitched in 25 games for the Reds at Triple A in 2025 with a 1.98 erra. He was a guy that we were pining for to get a chance at the MLB level, to get on that 40man, to get a chance to get back to the major leagues. Never happened for him. I I assume I’m I’m gonna get an agreement from you here, but I’m 100% bringing him into fall into spring camp and expecting him to make the major league roster out of camp. Yeah, I think he would have to be on a minor league invite, but yeah, I would certainly be be all about that. And I tell you what, that’s the one thing that this organization has probably done the best at recently is hitting on on a a method that’s not a high success rate. They have picked up guys like like Ian Jabau. Um they’ve picked up a lot of pitchers off of waiverss that that have been effective. I mean, Fernando Cruz was kind of that that nature as well. Um, so there probably has to be a combination of trying to strategically pick up and then also adding a couple more if it’s not Scott Barlo, a Scott Barlo type again. Um, that that kind of a mix of that. Uh, but yeah, I there’s there’s going to be some heavy lifting I think on this bullpen on Tony Santon, Graham Ashcraft, uh, Connor Phillips, and I think Zack Maxwell and Luis Maine next year. Like for for the Reds to really probably be successful no matter what they do, they need at least three of those guys next season to be well above average big league relievers. Deep South Commodities is a proud supporter of Chatterbox Reds and our deep drive of the day and DSC is a leader in renewable commodities for bofuel production specializing in used cooking oil collection, aggregation and sales. Visit www.deepsouthcommodities.com deepsouthcommodmodities.com for more information. Thanks as always to our friends at DSC. And we also want to remind you that you can call or text 988 anytime, day or night. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is a place to get support for anything related to mental health. Whether it’s an immediate crisis, simply wanting to find out how to connect with care, or anything in between. It’s a 100% confidential, secure, and anonymous way to reach out for help when you don’t know where else to turn. To connect, call or text 988 or visit mantherapy.org to get help. It’s okay not to be okay. Here’s the question for you, Nick. And we’ll get into a couple names that are available in a minute, but what I want to ask you right now is potentially going to drive the answer of how much money the Cincinnati Reds are going to spend on the bullpen in 2026. Now, here’s the question, Nick. Who’s your closer? Are you going is Tony Santon your guy and he’s your closer going into spring training and it’s his job to lose? Are you bringing in competition? Are you letting it ride? Because that’s going to drive a big piece of it. If you’re bringing someone in to try and compete for a closer role, you’re going to have to pay him a little bit. Are you rolling with Tony? Well, I mean, if me personally, I would never roll with a closer. I’m not I’m a closer by committee guy, but under the Terry Francone and and not just really under most baseball managers today. Yeah, Tony Santon’s for sure the closer and Tony Santion was like a half a closer at the end of the year. I mean, like they weren’t even always going to Amelio Pagan, especially if he wasn’t rested, they were going they were going with Tony Santi. So, Santi kind of almost was a closer at the end of the year. I mean, yeah, you you roll with that. Um, you roll with that and then you look to because you could probably look to add legitimately probably three arms that that have some upside to your bullpen for the price of one closer, right? So, I just don’t think it makes sense for the Reds to go out and try to get an actual closer. Uh, and if Santion doesn’t work, like Connor Phillips, I mean, what he showed at the end of the year doesn’t make me think that that’s off the table either. Now, he walks a little too many guys. Um, but he does seem like he was kind of getting that cleaned up at the end of the year. All right, let’s take a look at a couple names that uh again are going to be on the free agent market, expected to be free agents. Uh, not going to dive too deep into it because we are going to do another show where we dive pretty deep into the free agent market, but couple names that the Reds could be interested in reuniting with in 2026. Riceella Glacius a free agent. Uh Amelio Pagan obviously Jacob Junis a free agent. Luke Weaver a free agent. Derek Law a free agent. Any uh reunions in the books for you, Nick? Derek Law still uh Junis is the only one of that that group that I think really would make sense to me. I just don’t think the Reds are are in a spot where it makes sense to pay what a Glacius or or Luke Weaver would cost. Uh Derek, man, he had a sneaky good year and uh 2024. Oh, that’s 2024. Did he even pitch last year in the big leagues? Did he even pitch last year in the big leagues? I don’t know. He’s on the list. He’s on the list. I’m just telling you. You’re throwing guys out there that had a 13 RA in TripleA. He only pitched two innings. He must have been hurt most of the year. He must have been hurt. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and then a couple a couple names that uh former Red’s foes that they saw a lot that are expected to be free agents. Ryan Hley, the former Cardinals closer. Devin Williams, the former Brewers closer, who had a rough year in New York with the Yankees. Both uh free agents in 2026. Uh other names that that jump out to me, uh some may or may not be options, but Kenley Jansen expected to be a free agent. Uh Kirby Yates, David Robertson, um Danny Colom, who was a name that some people threw around at the trade deadline for the Reds to go out and get and then I think he got hurt in the second half. Kyle Finnegan is a name that I was interested in last year uh for the Reds to look at. He’s also a free agent. Any names uh jump out to you from that list? Yeah, I mean I think you’re probably looking a little more at the dark horse kind of guys for for the Reds. And and Craig, I’ll correct you. There’s no I’m not doing a show going through relievers uh for free. I’m not doing that. Like I could have done six shows last year and I probably never would have mentioned the name of Scott Barnal. Like he didn’t even finish he even finished the year like on a big league roster. um like trying to figure out what relievers make sense for the Reds. It’s legitimately like a needle in a hay stack. So, we’ll do the shows talking about the outfielders that make sense, the DH, the first baseman that make sense. If someone else wants to tackle the relievers, by all means, more power to you. I am not even thinking about that. Lucas sends a free agent, too. Uh Nick, in his negative point, Lucas, he had a tough year. He had a tough year. He’s probably gonna go join Nick Senzel out in Mexico. Oh my god. Oh man. Uh all right. Final thoughts on the bullpen, Nick. No, it’s just it’s a little more dire than I thought. I mean, you’re just you’re you’re you are going to probably no matter what they do, I mean, you’re going to be putting a lot of weight on that that that Santon Ashcraft uh Phillips uh Maxwell May and Maxwell May too. I mean, May had kind of a disappointing year. Maxwell, it’s hard to really evaluate their years because they weren’t terrible, but we did have a lot of high expectations for both of them coming into the year. I think that I said I hope that just one of those two would hit and kind of be a a dominant reliever. We didn’t really get that, but they also didn’t fall off the map either. Both those guys certainly still have all the talent in the world to be a closer, too. Uh but they haven’t shown nearly enough to where you feel comfortable about that. But it can flip quickly for these guys. Relievers are a different breed. I mean, there are the like Luke Weaver is the best example. I mean, this guy was atrocious for us all year and was the best reliever in baseball in in in 2024. So, um, yeah, that that’s kind of uh I I guess those two guys I I I certainly am optimistic, but you just you just never know how they’re going to pan out. Yep. All right. Well, I think that’ll do it for our look into the depth chart for 2026 as it sits for the Reds. As a reminder, coming out soon to date to be determined, but sooner than later, Nick and I will be back to do a breakdown of free agency and what the Reds might look to do in 2026 heading into the season in the free agent market. We’ll also be doing some more detailed position group breakdowns. And as always, Chatterbox Reds is your home for all breaking news and rumors. We’ll be sure to either go live or get a podcast out as soon as we can anytime rumors and news break. So, make sure you are clicking the subscribe button, following us on all social media platforms at CBox Sports. Give this video a like for us. Make sure that more people can see it. We certainly appreciate you tuning in. for Nick Kirby. I’m Craig Sandlin. This has been Chatterbox Reds. Until next time, everybody. Have a good one. [Music]

Nick Kirby and Craig Sandlin dive into the Cincinnati Reds’ offseason outlook and take an early look at the 2026 depth chart. They break down the projected lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen options, while discussing potential departures, the biggest roster needs, potential free agent signings and which players are primed for a bounce-back season.

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The Cincinnati Reds’ 2025 season ended with a Wild Card sweep by the Dodgers, their first full-season playoff berth since 2013. Finishing 83-79, the team leaned on elite starting pitching but struggled with inconsistent offense and defense. They ranked 21st in runs scored (4.25 per game) and 18th in ERA (4.12), with an average run differential exposing areas for improvement. Entering the offseason, President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall and GM Brad Meador aim to transform this young roster into NL Central contenders, leveraging payroll flexibility and a robust farm system to target a 90-win season in 2026.Financially, the Reds are well-positioned. Their 2025 payroll neared $120 million, but expiring contracts for reliever Emilio Pagán and utility man Nick Martinez free up $15-20 million. Only three players have guaranteed deals: ace Hunter Greene ($7.5M), third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes ($11M), and catcher Jose Trevino ($5M). Arbitration-eligible stars like shortstop Elly De La Cruz (projected $5.2M after hitting .275 with 18 HRs and 67 SBs) and second baseman Matt McLain ($3.9M) push commitments to around $60 million. Outfielder Spencer Steer’s $3.2M raise adds to the tab, but the Reds can maintain or slightly increase last year’s spending. Krall has signaled openness to mid-tier free agency, similar to last winter’s $108 million signings.

The bullpen is the top priority. Closer Alexis Díaz struggled (4.50 ERA, 25 saves), and with Pagán and Lucas Sims hitting free agency, the unit needs a reliable closer and setup man. Free agents like Ryan Helsley or Tanner Scott could stabilize the ninth, complementing lefty Alex Young. Internal options like Hunter Stratton offer depth, but trading a prospect like pitcher Rhett Lowder for relief help is plausible, given the farm’s pitching surplus with Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson vying for rotation spots.

Offensively, the Reds lack power, ranking 22nd in slugging (.395) and last in home run differential (-25). Elly De La Cruz, an All-Star with 67 steals, anchors shortstop despite 26 errors. Prospect Sal Stewart, a 21-year-old infielder who hit .290 with power in the minors, could claim first base after a strong September and playoff cameo. This might shift Spencer Steer (18 HRs, Gold Glove-caliber glove) to left field or DH. Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s .208 average makes him trade fodder for bullpen help. The outfield needs depth: Austin Hays’ $12M mutual option is doubtful after injuries limited him to 103 games, though his .266 average warrants consideration. Free agents like Kyle Schwarber or Rhys Hoskins could add right-field pop.

The rotation, a 2025 strength, needs minor tweaks. Hunter Greene (3.15 ERA, 185 Ks) leads, with Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo as stalwarts. Chase Burns’ injury opens doors for Lowder or Aguiar, but a veteran like Charlie Morton could add stability. New manager Terry Francona, a two-time World Series winner, brings veteran leadership, and the coaching staff returns intact.

Prospects fuel optimism. Stewart leads position players, while catcher Alfredo Duno and outfielder Steele Hall near big-league readiness. Pitchers like Aguiar ensure rotation depth. Krall emphasized player development, urging Steer, McLain, and Will Benson to rebound from uneven seasons. Noelvi Marte will hone skills in winter ball.

Fan excitement, tempered by playoff disappointment, calls for bold moves—some urge trading De La Cruz, others clamor for Schwarber. Redsfest in December will galvanize support. With $40-50 million to spend, Krall can address the bullpen, add power, and bolster versatility. Smart moves could push Cincinnati to 88-92 wins, challenging the Brewers and Cubs. As Francona said post-elimination, “Just the beginning.” The Reds’ 2026 blueprint aims for a deeper October run.