Terry Francona on Reds signing Emilio Pagán
Reds manager Terry Francona lauds the club’s re-signing of closer Emilio Pagán for his value to a strong clubhouse chemistry and culture.
The Reds showed they are serious about winning when they made their big offer to free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber.It’s a step – small as some fans may see it – after several offseasons of the Reds not even trying to compete for the top free agents.
The Cincinnati Reds legitimately tried to sign Kyle Schwarber.
They deserve some credit for that. What?!?! Saying the Reds tried sounds like a loser mentality, I know, and it’s hard to give them credit for simply trying after 30 years of not winning a postseason series.
But step back from the doom-scrolling and sell-the-team-Bob rabbit hole. The Reds showed they’re serious about winning in 2026 by making a strong offer and being in the running to sign Schwarber up until the last day before the free-agent slugger ultimately decided this week to return to Philadelphia.
The Reds showed they are willing to spend some money to improve the club. It has to be worth something that Reds owner Bob Castellini brought Middletown’s finest to Great American Ball Park for a visit last month and then reportedly put a strong, five-year, $125 million offer on the table.
It’s a step – small as some fans may see it – after several offseasons of the Reds not even trying to compete for the top free agents.
“We’re doing everything we can to move this team forward, to build off our playoff experience this year,” Reds president Nick Krall told reporters at the winter meetings on Wednesday.
What does it mean for what’s next? No one knows yet. No matter what the Reds do, it certainly won’t be as good as getting Schwarber, who would’ve been the biggest free-agent acquisition in franchise history. He checked all the boxes – the slugger the Reds desperately need, hometown guy, great clubhouse and community leader.
Whatever happens next, it doesn’t mean the Reds aren’t trying to win. Remember, no one thought they’d even bother with Schwarber. If recent offseason inactivity wasn’t enough to fuel that skepticism, Krall seemed to quash any hopes of the Reds even trying to get Schwarber when the team’s roster architect revealed last month that payroll would remain stagnant in 2026.
Schwarber offered a unique opportunity for the Reds, who made the playoffs this year for the first time in a full season since 2013. The three-time All-Star is coming off hitting a career-high 56 home runs, and his bat would’ve transformed the Reds into a potential World Series contender. The hometown guy driving the ball over the fence at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park would’ve sold a lot of tickets.
But Reds fans need to realize there’s no guarantee Schwarber would’ve come here even if Cincinnati had matched Philadelphia’s reported $150 million offer. The Phillies were always the favorite. Schwarber made it clear during the season that he and his family love the Phillies organization and the city. He’s had the best four years of his career in Philadelphia.
Professional athletes don’t just give hometown discounts when they’ve found another home they love. Reds fans have to understand all that. It may have been more difficult to accept had Schwarber gone to Baltimore, which reportedly matched the Phillies’ offer.
The social media narrative that the Reds aren’t going to spend that $125 million elsewhere is shallow and lacks nuance. No other slugger on the market is worth what Schwarber would’ve been to the Reds. They made a big exception for an exceptional player – and indications are the Reds were even willing to go a little higher.
The notion that the Reds now need to go spend $125 million on other free agents is short-sighted. It’d be foolish to just go back to the old ways and spend a bunch of money on free agents simply for the sake of spending money. The Reds have finally figured out that developing homegrown talent is the best way to try to build a small-market winner. Now that those homegrown players appear ready to win, it’s smart to try to spend money on the right player to fill a need.
It also shouldn’t be lost that we now know the Reds are willing to stretch the budget. Could that come into a play at next summer’s trade deadline if they can’t find exactly what they’re looking for this winter? That should give long-suffering fans at least a little bit of hope that Castellini remains sincere about bringing championship baseball back to Cincinnati.
Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com