CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Cincinnati Reds took a solid step forward in their rebuilding process this season even if was a short-lived stop in the playoffs, but moving forward there is no way they can believe they can run it back offensively and break their three-decade streak of futility of not winning a playoff series.

This offseason they must add a proven power bat to the middle of the lineup, no ifs, ands or buts about it. There should be no hoping young players taking a big step forward to fill that. If they do, it’s an added bonus.

They will have an extra $21 million to play with on the free agent market by allowing pitcher Nick Martinez to leave in free agency.

They are plenty deep in the starting rotation and will add Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson to the mix to compete for a spot to replace Zack Littell, who is a free agent, and if the money allows it perhaps they re-sign him, too. Closer Emilio Pagan is a free agent, and if the money is right, they should probably re-sign him, but his 2025 season could be a flash in the pan at age 34, so the price would have to be right.

Bullpen arms who return are Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, Conner Phillips, Scott Barlow, Brent Suter and Chase Burns, who also may compete for a spot in the starting rotation. They could use at least one more left-hander and maybe two if they move on from Suter, who is due $3 million in 2026.

The pitching depth could allow them to move someone in a trade to add the bat.

In the field there are several question marks such as:

– Where will Sal Stewart play?

– Would it be prudent to deal first baseman Spencer Steer to give Stewart a place to play or move Steer back to the outfield?

– Will there be some competition for second baseman Matt McLain?

– Can they carry Ke’Bryan Hayes’ bat in the lineup everyday or is he simply an expensive late inning defensive replacement (which is really what he should be)?

– Will they experiment with moving Elly De La Cruz to the outfield, and if so then who fills the void at shortstop?

There is no doubt part of this rebuilding process was counting on consistent production from the likes of McLain and Noelvi Marte, and a superstar performance from De La Cruz.

Marte had an .830 OPS in July and August, but slumped badly in September when he finished with .502 OPS. It looked like he had turned the corner to perhaps being the Reds best overall hitter, but a couple of months doesn’t make a career.

McLain struggled all season after not playing in 2024 due to injury. Was the struggle due to being away for a season and then getting in a mental rut at the plate that he just couldn’t get from under, or is he simply a .643 OPS hitter? I don’t think they should assume either, but they do need to add some competition for him.

Then there is De La Cruz, who had a solid season in which he finished with a team-high OPS of .777 with a team-high 22 homers, a team-high 86 RBI, a team-high 102 runs and a team-high 37 stolen bases. But he didn’t make the jump to superstardom many expected. If he puts up those numbers every year, no one should complain.

However, the point is he led the team in a lot of offensive areas with unspectacular numbers. That shows the giant hole in the lineup from a power standpoint. Steer was the only player on the team to hit more than 15 homers and he finished with 21.

There are some intriguing power bats who are eligible for free agency, such as New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker. Middletown native Kyle Schwarber is also a free agent, but it’s hard to fathom the Reds being able to compete financially to land him.

They can’t just sit tight and do nothing, however. If so, then it’s probably a .500-type team again and it’s unlikely 83 wins gets them in the playoffs like it did this season.

It’s time for Reds ownership to step to the plate and prove they want more than just sneaking into the playoffs.